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braxarchives · 3 years

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Enough ― CANON. (current verse)

It’s been month since the two officially started dating on the downlow, although it still remains a secret. Yet everything between them is fine. Until suddenly it isn’t.

Things had felt relatively normal, if not quieter between them than usual, before they arrived at the party. Max wasn't sure exactly why, but he didn't really question it too much because they'd been about to leave. It was some random hangout at a friend’s place. nothing too far out of the usual. Max’s limbs were lose and his body was warm from the blunt that had been passed around earlier that night, and the drink that currently fit into the palm of his right hand. He wasn’t too bad, just...relaxed. And he figured Brady was probably in the same boat. He picked up the other drink off the counter and left the kitchen, grinning and nodding or speaking to the people he passed. He found Brady in the next room, and he didn't see him currently talking to anyone, so he approached him to hand over the cup. "You gotta try this, man." His tone was easy as his lips lifted into a coaxing smile. "Coke and red wine. A couple people are trying it, said it was good, I dunno. Poured me one too." He knew Brady liked his wine. Support, and all of that. "Might give the classic grape juice 'n fireball a run for it's money."

There was never a moment of peace after talking on the phone with his dad. Brady always left the conversation feeling pissed off and very much drained. His dad just didn’t let him speak. And it was nothing but negative bullshit. It really wore Brady down. But he didn’t want that to be the focus of the night, so he and Max went to their friend’s party as planned. He couldn’t fully pretend like it wasn’t weighing on his mind, though. Even as he spent the night drinking and smoking a little to try to loosen up, he was still thinking about his dad telling him everything he was doing wrong and reminding him why he was single. Joke’s on you, asshole. And he wished he could tell him; he really, really wished it were as simple as turning the camera on Max and telling his dad to go fuck himself. But it just wasn’t. He tried his best not to let it get to him anymore, leaning back against the wall with his hands in his pockets. He was staying close to the music in case it started to suck and he had to take some creative liberties, and he’d been left alone long enough to zone out when Max came back with a drink for him. He snapped out of it and pulled one hand out of his pocket to take the cup, looking down at what was in it. At Max’s description, Brady made a face. “You’ve mastered the art of disgusting,” he said simply, swirling the liquid in the cup. But he still took a sip... and didn’t hate it. Not at all. He shrugged and looked up. “Not that disgusting, actually. Think it might officially beat firegrape.” He was trying to have fun, and he was, kind of. Just maybe not as much as he would if the Colonel had left him alone. “Didn’t realize you succumbed to peer pressure so easily, though. You just try anything someone tells you to try?”

"Is that a complaint?" Max teased as he stared down into his own cup, the now dark red liquid emitting a strange smell, but that wasn't enough to deter him. He lifted the cup to his lips to take a sip when Brady did, not going to chicken out and leave him on this on his own. Huh. It was just... sweet. Brady was right, it did beat Firegrape. It burned a lot less, that was for sure. "You know, as much as I don't wanna cheat on Firegrape, you might be right. This is just... the chill version of that." The expression on his face shifted into something more playful and suggestive, the change nearly imperceptible. "Sometimes,” he started. "I try a lot of things. You should know that by now.” Max tried not to smile and took another sip before lowering the cup. “Cute you think it’s peer pressure though. I volunteered.” He nodded before leaning to rest his arm against the wall, a reasonable ways away from him. “What’re you doin’ over here?”

“Never pegged you as a cheater,” Brady muttered. His tone wasn’t clearly teasing, but Max never missed his very obvious deadpan humor. It just also didn’t help that he wasn’t totally in the mood to be overtly funny right now. Brady tolled his eyes. “So everyone was trying it, and handed you a cup, but it’s ‘cute’ to assume it wasn’t voluntary.” He nodded once. “Okay.” Drowning his moodiness in another long sip, Brady fully recognized the mixing flavors. His mom would pass out if she knew he was drinking such an abomination of a cocktail. “I dunno. Am I supposed to be doing something?” It wasn’t like Brady was particularly a wildly dancing partier even on a good night. Still, he knew what Max meant. “I’m just staying close to the music,” he explained, glancing down at whoever’s phone was docked in the Bluetooth speaker. A ballsy move to leave it there, maybe, but Brady didn’t expect any of their friends to actually just jack someone’s phone like that. “Might have to play DJ soon. Get some Cotton Eyed Joe going, kick this shit up a notch.”

“Firegrape and I were never exclusive; I think we’ll be okay.” The teasing nature of the conversation shifted at Brady’s next words, and maybe if it were someone else they wouldn’t have noticed. But Max faltered for a moment, lifting one shoulder into a shrug as he studied him, eyes narrowing just a bit as the tone sunk in. And something about the vibe didn’t exactly sit right. “Okay,” he let the word draw out, and he knew something was up, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what. Just that Brady wasn’t normally that short with him. Not unless there was some kind of reason. He waited a beat before speaking again. “Well I hope you’re havin’ fun doing that, then. Someone’s gotta blast Rednex here. Might as well be you.“ He took a moment to swig another drink of the Coke & Wine concoction and he wanted to say something more; ask if everything was okay, when a voice sounded from behind him greeting them both. He didn’t need to turn around to realize it was a mutual friend, and out of instinct he moved to the side, shoulder leaning into Brady’s as he allowed room for the figure to step in front of them, where he once stood. “Hey!” He greeted instantly as they were approached, conversation starting just as fast, and Max didn’t have time to really think about anything as he spoke.

Brady was about to respond (though truthfully he wasn’t even sure what he wanted to say), but he never got the chance. Their friend came up behind Max, loud as ever, all but crashing into them in an overexcitable hello. Brady immediately wanted to shrink away; he wasn’t in the mood for that over the top shit right now. He wasn’t nearly drunk enough yet. Max came closer to him, and Brady watched almost in slow motion while he just about pressed his shoulder against Brady’s own. What the fuck was he doing? Brady looked down at the way Max leaned casually against him, and if they were at home in their kitchen Brady would put his arm around his waist and keep him there. But they weren’t at home. So instead, Brady stepped back, almost too quickly. He could feel the weight of Max brush against him as he pulled away. Brady knew Max hadn’t even meant to do anything, but something about his lack of caution when someone was standing right there put Brady’s bad mood over the top. “Dude,” he said, and all of it had happened so quickly in his head he hardly had time to recognize their friend was still standing there, and now having a conversation with Max. Meanwhile, Brady hadn’t even greeted him yet. The conversation stilled at Brady’s awkward interjection. He blinked, tearing his eyes away from Max and looking over at their friend. “Uh. Hey, man.” It was too quiet for a few moments that felt like an hour. The drink felt too heavy in his hands, but Brady’s heart was thudding in his chest too wildly to want to drink it anyway. “I gotta pee,” he muttered suddenly, turning to shoulder past his friends and head in the direction of the bathroom. He was aware that he could have chilled the fuck out. But he was also more aware than ever that he wasn’t ready for anyone to know what was going on with he and Max. Or...he didn’t fucking know. He was just pissed off, and that was where he’d start.

It took him a second to realize Brady was talking to him, the exclamation making him freeze automatically though he didn’t initially realize it was him. It was nothing Max hadn’t done a million times before, gotten too close to friends and him specifically. But the one word washed over him and made him tense up, confusion in his gaze as he looked at Brady before hurt replaced it. And he took a step away, not really saying anything, not an apology or a muttered explanation. Instead of saying anything, Max avoided looking at him, instead asking their friend Pretzel some bullshit question to at least move the conversation forward. The friend had nodded at Brady’s excuse to leave, and Max’s eyes drifted to him as he walked away, continuing the conversation although his mind was somewhere else entirely. He didn’t know what the hell his problem was, but frustration and hurt was at the forefront. He’d never just jerked away from him before. The conversation shifted within a few minutes as other friends joined in, and Max excused himself to go get another drink, and instinct was telling him to seek out Brady to see wjwt was up. But the mood had soured, and honestly, Max was still annoyed by it. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to talk to him right now. So after a couple more drinks and hanging out with a few more friends, Max decided he wasn’t really in the head space to be here anymore, and texted Brady he was gonna call an Uber if he was ready to leave. When he got response, he called one, and told him he was going to wait for him out front. He said his goodbye’s to people he passed on his way out with the promise to text them later, and as Brady came out and the Uber came, it was pretty much silent on the way home.

When they got back to the apartment, he didn’t say much of anything as he set his keys down on the counter. The way the clang of the metal sounded through the silent apartment was almost startling, and Max was pretty sure Arlo wasn’t home. He didn’t even look at him before he spoke. “So can I act like I know you now or is that still not cool?”

It wasn’t surprising that things were quiet for the rest of the night until they got home. Everything that night was stewing in Brady’s mind, and there were so many things he wished had gone different. But they hadn’t, so these were the consequences. Brady had already kicked off his shoes and set his stuff down. He pulled his hoodie up over his head, getting dizzy from the smell of wine and Coke after he’d sloshed it on himself earlier. By the time he’d gotten it over his head, Max was speaking. And Brady didn’t know what he expected from him...but it wasn’t quite that. “Are you serious?” His sweatshirt was now bunched up around his wrists, but now he was too frozen to do anything more with it. His eyes searched Max’s face but he wasn’t sure what he was looking for, exactly. “Don’t fucking do that, Max.” Finally, as if he’d broken his own trance, Brady was able to pull the fabric the rest of the way off. But instead of actually taking care of it, he haphazardly tossed it toward the couch behind him. “He was standing right there. And you...” Brady trailed off, shaking his head. “You can’t do that. We weren’t...at home or whatever, okay?” His voice lowered slightly, as if somebody could hear them here. And Brady hated that feeling. Even in the one place things were supposed to be easy, it suddenly wasn’t anymore. It made his stomach twist in a way he’d never felt before. “I didn’t know what you were trying to do.”

Was Max being petty? Probably. The alcohol and weed still mingled together, but it wasn’t so much that it masked his real thoughts as he turned around to face him. It still stung when Brady pulled away from him like he was some fucking stranger, and now with the way Brady was looking at him in disbelief as though Max was in the wrong - he was mad. “Do what?” He bit out, equal parts defensive and genuinely not understanding. And then suddenly he did, and he felt nauseous. “I don’t think I like what you’re tryin’ to say.” He tried to say calmly, but it wasn’t working, and by the way his tone shifted that much was clear. “You don’t know what I was trying to do? What the fuck?” He stared at him, trying to see if he was kidding or something, but obviously he fucking wasn’t. “What do you think I was trying to do, grab your dick in the middle of the party?” His voice lowered and his words were spoken slow, though he wasn’t calm in the slightest. “Are you being serious right now? I fucking bumped you. Do you even hear yourself?” The fact that he said he didn’t know what he was trying to do. Like he didn’t trust him. It upset him in a way he didn’t know how to describe. “What should I do next time, Brady? Tell me. Pretend not to know you? That’d be real unsuspicious.”

Brady rolled his eyes. “I didn’t say you were going to fucking grope me.” He didn’t like that implication just as much as Max was telling him he didn’t like Brady’s own. He listened to Max speak and exhaled through his nose, looking up at the ceiling with his lips pressed into a tight line. “Yeah. I’m being serious.” He was mumbling, he knew, but that was nothing new for him, no matter what kind of mood he was in. “It matters to me, okay? What people see. And when you get real fuckin’ close like that... I can’t tell what they’re gonna think. And say.” Brady looked back at Max again, now crossing his arms over his chest. “That’s bullshit, Max. I’ve never fucking asked you to pretend you don’t know me,” Brady shot back, shaking his head firmly. Then he moved one hand to point directly at his own chest. “But I’m not out. Do you remember that?” A damn broken record. But Brady was mad, and he hated hearing Max talk the way he was right now. “Why are you acting like this is all fucking news to you?” He paused, shrugging so hard his hands then dropped to his sides with a slap. “Like this isn’t how it was from the beginning?” He knew that Brady was going to continue to be sensitive and hyper aware of what went on in public. So of course he’d reacted. Maybe he just... overreacted. But he couldn’t help how on edge he was about damn near everything.

Maybe normally Max would understand; try to hear him out. But suddenly he was upset and he couldn’t exactly pinpoint which thing stung the most. “What’s bullshit is you thinking I don’t care or that I’d try anything where other people could see.” Saying the words made him feel nearly short of breath, like they hurt to say. He wanted so badly to be in public with him and not have to worry about any of this. He wanted to be able to lean against him or walk a little too close and have it be as okay as it was when it was just the two of them, and Max didn’t realize how much he wanted that until he was standing here trying to defend it. “How could I forget when you’re jerking away from me if I get an inch too close?” The bitterness he suddenly felt deeper into his tone as he looked at him. That wasn’t fair and Max knew it wasn’t. But now that he started, he couldn’t stop. “It’s news to me because you haven’t done that to me before.” His voice rose an octave, words cracking, and he pressed his hands to the table like he needed that to ground his thoughts. It didn’t work. “If that happened when we were just friends, you wouldn’t have. And no one else would have thought anything. So no, it wasn’t like this from the beginning.” But it was and Brady told him it would be. Yet even with the warning, it wasn’t the same as experiencing it firsthand. “You were in a mood from the start tonight. And if it’s because you’re worried someone can tell just by looking at us, that’s fucked up.” He wanted Brady to be comfortable. But he couldn’t help how he felt either, now that it was coming out. “And I don’t know how to make that better for you.”

Brady shook his head quickly, holding his hands out in near desperation. He took a step closer to Max, not challenging him or anything like that. Moreso in the sense that he was trying to get through to him, and felt like being physically closer would somehow help. “But we aren’t just friends,” he said, as though Max didn’t know that. “It‘s not all hypothetical here. It...it freaked me out because we’re not. That’s the whole point.” At Max’s next words about Brady’s mood, his hands hung at his sides again. It felt like something knocked the wind out of him. He really should just mention his dad, but at the same time, he was so fucking tired of having to voice every time the dude pissed him off. It made him feel small in a way only the Colonel could make him feel, and Brady was tired of having to swallow that down and say it to Max every time. So he didn’t. He glossed over it. “You don’t get to tell me what I feel is fucked up.” It was, though. It had been from the beginning. Maybe Brady just didn’t want to finally admit that it really, truly was. He shook his head again, glancing down at his feet before back up at Max. His next words felt like acid in his throat, stinging all the way and leaving a bad taste in his mouth afterward. “I gave you an out.” His voice was quiet, and he wanted to look away again, but he willed himself not to. “Fucking months ago when I said how this was gonna have to be. I told you you didn’t have to deal with it.” And Brady had always known it couldn’t be that way forever; should never have had to be in the first place, for Max’s sake. Yet here they were. “So I don’t know what to tell you. If you changed your mind and you want an out now...” He shrugged, feeling defeated despite the heat still rising within him. “‘Cause I don’t know what the fuck else you want from me.”

"No, we aren't." Max agreed with a lift of his arms, frustration seeping into every word. "But you know what? No one knows that. And no one's gonna know that, because I make sure not to fucking look at you for too long. I don't talk to you as much or mention you in passing, Brady. And you wanna know something? I shouldn't have to do that." The words were loud as they echoed throughout the room, and Max felt sick to his stomach again. His arms slowly lowered to his sides as his voice quieted. "You shouldn't have to do that." Brady was right, it wasn't Max's place to tell him what was and wasn't fucked up when they had talked about this before they even started. But now things felt so much more different, so much more real. Max hadn't thought at the time that'd it hurt this much, that as long as he knew where Brady stood it'd be okay. But suddenly everything else mattered too. His next words stung, and Max took a step back, swallowing the lump in his throat. "What I want is for things to be normal. To not worry over every single thing. I don't want us to be constantly lookin' over our shoulders all of the time." He didn't want it to go like this. He didn't want this, and it felt so fucking wrong even as he heard himself speak. His chest hurt and he immediately wanted to take it back, but he couldn't. "If you're so worried about people finding out you have a boyfriend, then maybe you shouldn't have one."

“Well, then... I’m sorry things can’t be normal for you. Fuck, dude. I don’t know.” He really didn’t. He wasn’t sure what Max was trying to get at here. He would never even come close to trying to convince Brady to come out outside of his own terms, obviously, and Brady knew that, but he didn’t know what the hell else Max was suggesting come from this. Until he said what he said next, and it hit Brady so hard it was as if someone had just punched him full force in the gut. Brady didn’t know if he meant that. Suddenly every single moment from the past few months replayed in his mind, and he wondered if Max had been holding onto something the entire time. Brady knew he wasn’t good for Max, wasn’t anywhere near fair to him because of shit that felt so wildly out of his control. But now, as the words hung heavily in the air between them and they stood there looking at each other, Brady was just hurt. His jaw clenched and he shook his head much slower this time. “Fuck you, Max.” He didn’t know what else to say. He didn’t want to say anything else. So he turned to leave him there in the kitchen, going toward his own bedroom and grabbing his hoodie on the way. Draco lifted his head from Brady’s bed with a happy wag of his tail, then he winced as Brady slammed the door behind him and flung the stupid sweatshirt against the wall. Brady collapsed onto the bed and Draco put his head partly on his chest, like he knew something was up, and Brady just brought his hands to his face to let the rage and hurt mixing inside him settle down. Frankly, he didn’t want to see Max again tonight.

He never regretted saying something to Brady more than at this moment, and he watched him leave with a feeling of hopelessness that was his own fault. The fuck you stung, and he knew he went too far. "Brady ---" He tried to say, but the word wasn't entirely audible as he left, the sound of his door slamming reaching his ears. Max sighed, hand dragging over his face. "Fuck," he muttered, standing there for a moment with his eyes closed, mind still replaying everything. A few long moments passed before he walked off to his own room, hesitating outside of Brady's. His hand rose like he was going to knock, but he stopped himself. Because as much as he was sorry, his own hurt continued to remain at the forefront. Once he was in his own room, he sat down on his bed, resting his head in his hand. And this wasn't what he wanted; how he expected his night to go. And for the first time in what felt like awhile, he stayed in his own room. The next morning was almost normal. He walked out of his room to see Brady and Arlo in their kitchen, and he'd muttered a hello as he'd grabbed a bowl to fill with cereal. But it wasn't normal at all, because he didn't go over to kiss him and didn't immediately go over to sit with them first. His eyes drifted over Brady as he'd passed, and it was normal enough, but his chest still felt tight because nothing felt right still. He'd barely been able to sleep, and he wanted to talk to him, but to pretend like things were normal now was fucked up. Max was pouring milk into his bowl when he heard her get up and tell them she'd be back later, grabbing her things and leaving them both in silence. He wasn't sure if he was allowed to break the silence yet, but he couldn't take it anymore as he turned back around to set his bowl on the table, finally lifting his eyes to look at him. "Mind if I sit here?"

Brady had woken up in a daze. He’d tried to forget about what happened last night, but obviously that wasn’t going to happen. He’d have to face it sooner or later — they both would. So he dragged his ass out of his room early as hell to take Draco outside. When they got back, Arlo was up, and Brady made himself coffee before sitting with her. It was typical for all of them to convene in the kitchen whenever they were awake and around, but for once, Brady wasn’t overly excited about seeing Max. He just didn’t know what to say. But of course Max showed up; Brady couldn’t expect him not to, and he watched him wearily over the top of his mug. It was tense for a bit, and then Arlo left, and it was even worse. Brady pulled a leg up onto the chair, knee to his chest with both hands grasping the cup. Max came to sit across from him and Brady shrugged. “Don’t own the table.” He sipped his drink to give himself something to do, and before long he was going to need to get himself a refill. Lord knew he needed it. It felt weird not to greet him normally first thing in the morning — more than that, not to even really want to at the moment. Brady didn’t like that feeling and knew they had to talk. “So.” He didn’t want to be the one to shatter the tension, but Max had done the breaking the silence part. And Brady felt worse about the things that were said than being awkward right now. “I didn’t mean to say that.” Max knew what he meant. Brady didn’t want to repeat it. He still stared down at the coffee, the least interesting thing in the world, but he needed something to focus on. “I was just pissed.”

Max silently sat down, awkwardly tense, and he hated that he felt that way. Especially around Brady. He stuck his spoon in the bowl, staring down at it for a second, and for once he wasn't hungry. He gathered a spoonful, but didn't lift it up to his lips as Brady began to speak. His eyes lifted up to him instead, and he lowered the utensil, gaze shifting to him. "I know." He said quietly. "I'm sorry, about what I said. Didn't need to say all that," He hesitated, knowing full well he'd gone too far last night. "I hope you don't think I really meant what I said, either." But some things he did mean, and he knew that. "At the end, I mean. I was..." He struggled to find the words, but decided to tell the truth. "It hurt my feelings." An understatement, but he wasn't sure how else to describe it just launching into it like he was.

Brady put the cup down on the table, still holding it and staring at it, Max’s words washing over him. “I dunno. Did you?” He wasn’t trying to provoke him or instigate another argument. He felt like he was posing a genuine question, so he finally looked up at Max. “It seemed like you were really hurt. And I’m not saying that was wrong.” He brought one hand up to run through his hair, closing his eyes for a few moments before looking back at Max. “I guess I thought I could just pretend it wouldn’t be a problem. But it is. It’s a fuckin’ problem.” And it wasn’t anybody’s fault but his own, as far as he was concerned. Brady sighed. “I said I didn’t want you to be some dirty little secret but it feels like that’s what it is now. And I hate that.” Brady held his gaze. “You have to believe that I fucking hate that, Max.” It was never what he wanted. So much of their relationship, from the very beginning when he wanted it to stay undefined, had been about Brady wanting to have his freaking cake and eat it too. And it just couldn’t work like that. It hadn’t worked then, and it wasn’t working now. He wanted to stop being so damn selfish. His eyes darted down again because he didn’t think he could handle looking at him when he spoke next. “I just. I get it if you don’t wanna do this anymore,” he muttered. One hand was still on the mug and he was now tracing around the rim as his heart rate picked up. He hated the way it sounded, but it was true.

It hurt having to talk about this, but after last night, they had no choice but to. "I was hurt." Max admitted, because he wasn't going to lie to him. He held his gaze as Brady spoke to him, and he did believe him. That was part of why this was so complicated; why it was so hard having to pretend in front of everyone else that this was nothing when it was a big fucking something. "I know you do," he muttered, and Brady's words made his chest ache all over again. He’d never meant to guilt him or blow up like he did. Max felt weird being so distant from him, and lifted his hand to rest on his arm. "I meant what I said before." Max spoke slowly, trying to make sure his words were clear as he said them. "That I wanna be with you." If it were anyone else, maybe things would be different and this would be too much. But Brady wasn't just anybody else. "But I'm not gonna lie and say it's not hard for me. I know it’s hard for you. I’m not trying to force you into shit you’re not comfortable with either. That wasn’t the point.” He let his hand fall to the table yet his eyes still remained on Brady. His cereal was long forgotten now. “But I can’t be worrying about whether or not people can tell forever. Or have you be so fuckin’ worried you feel like you can’t stand next to me in public.” He hesitated, not wanting to unsettle him, or think he was giving him an ultimatum. “I don’t want that for you either. It’s just...” he struggled to find the word, though he knew Brady already knew how it felt. “Exhausting having to worry all the time.”

“I know.” Brady felt sick to his stomach. He had been racked with guilt on more than one occasion since the start of this whole thing. Because he wasn’t blind to the reality of what he was making Max do; he never had been. He had just never really thought about what would really happen when it all had to come to an end. How it would all come out into the light as having been really affecting them both from the start. Brady felt a sense of shame he hadn’t allowed himself to feel in a long time. It was easy to tell himself that what he was doing was fine because it was his choice when and how he came out. And that was true; it was everyone’s right to speak their own truth in whatever way they thought was right. But the more Brady thought about it, the more he saw how fucked up it all was. He didn’t even know why he didn’t want to come out. Well...obviously he did. But his parents didn’t know half the shit about him, so why was this any different? Why couldn’t he tell his friends and be happy with who he was outside of his parents’ shitty home with their shitty views? It was hard to find a single reason. He had just been so hesitant to think about it because things seemed to be going okay for him. Keeping his relationship with Max a secret felt too far gone for Brady to recognize that his reasoning was hardly a reason at all. His elbows came to rest on the table and he buried his face in his hands. He was overwhelmed by so many feelings he could hardly even pinpoint. Shame, stress, anger, resentment, hurt. The way he felt about Max and how that overpowered all of it. Brady’s throat felt dry when he swallowed. His face was still in his hands when he said, “We can tell people.” Arlo knew. Emmie knew. Lizzy and CJ knew. And absolutely no one had given a shit so far, and truly no one would aside from the obvious. “I’m serious. I don’t want to do this anymore.”

Seeing Brady so resigned with his face in his hands hit him harder than what they said last night. The last thing Max wanted was for him to feel guilty or like he was trying to push him into something before he was ready, so when the muffled words reached his ears, he tried not to let surprise and hopefulness rise to the forefront. His gaze fell on him and he angled his chair to move closer to him, lifting his hand to rest on his shoulder, and he wanted to hug him. Wanted to do something. Max swallowed before shaking his head. “Don’t want you to say that unless you’re sure that’s what you want.” He knew he said he was serious, but he wanted to be sure. “Not because we fought. ‘Cause I can wait for a little while longer; didn’t mean for that to sound like I couldn’t. Nothing has to happen overnight.” His words were gentle as he tried to speak carefully, and now he felt guilty himself. His thumb brushed against the side of his neck, trying to let him know he was there. “But if it’s something you’re ready for, for sure. Then okay. We can talk about it and figure it out.”

“Just.” Brady sighed, the sound muffled in his hands, and finally he lifted his head to look at him again. “Just trust me. Okay?” Max’s hand on his shoulder and touching his neck was comforting. It brought Brady back down to earth. The only reason he’d done any of this in the first place was because it was Max. He’d never felt this way about anybody before and wasn’t ready to let that go. And clearly, Max made him braver. “And I’ll trust you.” Like always. This would never have lasted as long as it did on the foundation it was based on if they hadn’t trusted each other. “It’s not gonna happen overnight,” Brady repeated with a firm nod. “But it’s gotta start happening at some point.” He wasn’t sure exactly where they’d start, but it was first thing in the morning. Just like Max said, they could figure it out. Brady raised his own hand to Max’s wrist, holding onto it. “I’m not ashamed of you,” he said, just to say it. To hear himself say it and make sure Max heard it too. “I wanna make sure you know that.” He paused. “And I’m glad for the people who do know. It’s...freeing. I want that.” He wanted Max. There was simply nothing he wanted more, ever. Brady leaned in to kiss him quickly on the cheek. Even if they’d fought and still seemed to be in an imperfect place, he was still his boyfriend. And Brady was trying to keep it that way.

"I do trust you," he said, and meant it, relief settling in as he lifted his head to look at him again. Max's hand lingered where it was. "I don't want you to think I don't." Max reacted badly, having been so wrapped up in how the previous night made him feel that he didn't want to stop and talk it through at the time. But now, the next morning, he had clarity. And he didn't want to lose him, especially not over something like this, something that was so personal for Brady was it was. "Then I'll be here. No matter how you wanna do it." It was a promise, and he briefly let his hand slide to cup the side of his face. He didn't know he needed to hear that Brady wasn't ashamed of him until the words were out there, and his shoulders relaxed. A small smile tugged at his lips, and it was bittersweet. "I know." He said simply, and in a way, he had known that. It was just hard to lose sight of that at times. His hand dropped to the table, and momentarily his eyes closed at the kiss to his cheek. He wasn't sure what he'd expected, but he was beyond relieved it was this, and not Brady deciding this was too much or that it was too much pressure or something. "I'm so... fucking proud of you." He said suddenly as he opened his eyes, meaning in his words. "And I want that too. You know I do." Max's hand sought out Brady's, covering his fingers with his own. "We can do this on your own terms. Tell who you're comfortable with first. This doesn't have to be some big thing."

“Yeah. Thanks.” He’d never wanted it to be something big, even when he was ready and wanted to tell his parents and everyone else. That wasn’t Brady. When he wanted to let everyone know, he always wanted it to be casual. And that could start now. Brady sighed, the sound laced with clear relief. This was going to be a weight off of everyone’s shoulders. He lifted the mug to his lips and took another sip. “I think...” He trailed off, biting the inside of his cheek briefly as he thought. “It was easy to tell Emmie. Y’know?” She hadn’t cared at all. But at the same time, she was understanding of why she couldn’t go and say anything herself. “And...my brother and sister.” Somewhat surprisingly, maybe. But maybe only because that was the closest he could possibly get to telling his parents. It wasn’t like he didn’t trust his siblings, though. “So. Maybe, like...your family.” Brady shrugged, suddenly feeling a little nervous. “I dunno.”

Max hadn’t been expecting any of this, really. He didn’t know what to expect when he walked out of his room that morning. He’d already known Brady wanted to go about things at his own pace, and he didn’t want to be the one to make him feel like he couldn’t. But here he was trying to talk about it. The fact that he wanted to tell his own family first touched him, suddenly, because he was glad on some level Brady knew it was safe. “Hey,” he said gently. “If you wanna tell them first, then I think that’s a good idea.” Max cracked a small smile, and he knew this was important. Not to mention fucking hard. “I’ve already come out to them once before. And they never once made me feel bad about it after I did.” His tone was quiet. It took him awhile to realize the only person making him feel bad about it in the first place was him, overthinking it. He’d gotten lucky with the parents he had. “They’re gonna love you, you know?” He wanted to reassure him, because Max knew his parents. He knew how supportive they were. But Brady didn’t. He paused before settling on his next words. “There’s nothing to worry about, with them. Just - think about it. You don’t have to decide today. But - you know. You wouldn’t have to worry with them.“ He was pretty sure like half of his family members and family friends were on the gay spectrum, but he kept that to himself. It wouldn’t really matter until Brady went through it himself.

“Dude, I...I know that.” Brady didn’t need to be reminded that he was allowed to think on it. It just didn’t sit right with him to have Max keep saying it when Brady had already been selfish enough. It was time for him to take stock of what really mattered — and what mattered was Max. So it made him feel all squirmy to have Max keep telling him he could take his time. He’d already taken too much. “Just. Let me be sure of it. Trust me, right?” He looked him in the eye as he said it, to be sure Max heard him. He didn’t want to him to have to bend to Brady’s desires anymore. He understood he was trying not to force Brady out of the closet, but that had never even been a minor possibility. He looked back down before he spoke again, as much as he tried not to. It was still hard to say some things outright, so it was kind of easier to focus on something else, like the coffee in front of him. “I’m sorry,” he said, making sure not the mumble this time so Max could hear him and know he was serious. “For putting you through all that. All the being unsure, and everything.” He paused, and then looked back at his face again. “And... let me be sorry, please,” he added with a slight laugh, because lord knew Max was too damn kind for his own good, and Brady had never wanted to take advantage of that. He wanted both of them to be responsible for messing up in whatever ways they did. “You should eat your fuckin’ cereal now. Looks gross.”

Max just looked at him for a second before nodding slowly. He did trust him, a hell of a lot. He knew Brady wasn’t someone to just do something he didn’t want to do. Still, it was hard to shake the feeling that he was part responsible because of how he’d reacted. What happened last night had hurt him. At times like this he could be honest with himself and admit that he didn’t like being hidden all of the time. That it fucking sucked and stung more than he’d been letting on. So he wanted to trust that It was time. “Okay.” He said simply, the word hanging in the air like he wanted to add onto it. The apology sunk in slowly, and he could tell he meant it. His first instinct was to tell him he didn’t have to be sorry, but he stopped himself, listening to what he was trying to say. “I know.” And the words did mean a lot; like he had needed to hear them even if he didn’t want him to feel fucking bad over coming out of all things. “Just want you to know we’re okay. That’s all.” He murmured, and he paused a moment before stretching in closer and pressing his lips to his jawline, the closest spot he could reach. Slowly, he retreated back to his spot, and the mention of his cereal almost made him smile. Max’s gaze flickered to the previously forgotten bowl, and he outstretched his hand to nudge it toward Brady. “What, this cereal? I poured it for you. It’s a peace offering.” He teased quietly, feeling like he should lighten the mood somehow. “Figured you might like it more if you thought it was mine.”

“I don’t want your nasty wet cereal.” Brady pushed it back toward him. Though it was true that Brady usually went for Max’s before getting his own. After all this time, it was still just better, and he simply didn’t give enough of a shit to stop doing it. Brady stood up, reaching a hand up to run over Max’s hair as he did. It was kind of an instinctual thing to touch him, and it had felt weird not doing that, even for a short time. It seemed they were both trying to get back to some semblance of normalcy here after the first real time that was all jeopardized. Brady picked up his mug and carried it over to the sink, rinsing out what little was left at the very bottom and then turning to Max. “Well. I need some more caffeine, so. Probably gonna make a Starbucks run.” He leaned back on his hands against the counter, pausing like he was going to ask some life changing question, when really it was nothing out of the ordinary. “You wanna come for a walk?” As the words left his mouth, he could hear the unmistakable sound of metal tags jingling against collars as all dog ears perked up. Brady had said the W word, after all. He grinned. “I mean. Sounds like someone does, at least.” He gestures toward Max’s cereal again. “I can wait for you to finish your bowl of mush, though. I hope the temperature is just right, Goldilocks.”

And just like that, things felt like they always had, though their previous conversation still loomed overhead. Brady’s hand brushing over his hair brought him an immediate sense of comfort, and relief sunk in. Max wanted them to be okay; hated fighting with him like he’d done yesterday. That’s not how he wanted things to be, ever. The sound of the dogs perking up at his question made Max smile. “Looks like everyone’s awake now.” He briefly turned his attention to his bowl, stirring the contents before lifting a bite to his lips. He chewed slowly before letting it fall back down. “I mean, it’s still cold. That’s good enough for me. Just gimme like ten minutes so I don’t waste all of it.” He wasn’t the biggest fan of soggy cereal, but it still tasted the same at least. He looked back at him over his shoulder, and the atmosphere was so much lighter. “We can all go.” Referring to the dogs, of course.

#CANON #enough #current verse #016

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braxarchives · 3 years

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Calm Before the Storm ― CANON. (current verse)

Brady and Max are still settling into what it’s like being secret boyfriends for real. They spend some time filming a video for Max’s YouTube channel with some friends, then end up coming home for some long awaited time alone. NSFW.

It was pretty sweet when Brady got to be the designated cameraman for a video Max was doing with other very qualified content creators. Well, okay — it was always that way when it was a video for Max's own channel, because it had to fit with his normal style. But still. It was always interesting when he popped up in other videos that Brady had had nothing to do with filming or editing wise. So he appreciated being a part of the entire process during collabs like this. He got along just as well with their YouTube friends Forest and Maisie, so there were very rarely any issues in a video like this. Of course, recently there was the whole added aspect of keeping a huge secret. So things sometimes felt a little more tense despite the otherwise chill atmosphere, and while Brady was in charge of the videography aspect of everything, he felt a little less in control of... everything else. He was doing his best, though. Max was too. And they were managing pretty well, he thought. No one seemed to suspect anything of them.

Brady was mindful, though. He was currently sitting behind his camera setup, ensuring everyone was in the frame and in focus, and taking notes for editing later on. And the whole time, as he listened to Max go back and forth with Maisie and Forest about the first tiktok trend on their list, Brady had the thought in the back of his mind not to let his eyes linger too long on Max. But also, don’t completely ignore Max because that’s even more obvious. It was a little ridiculous at times, feeling like he had to find a happy medium, but it was always worth it later on. They’d go home and Brady wouldn’t have to worry about any of that anymore (especially with Arlo in the know now). He was sure that all of this being careful would be totally worth it down the line. So maybe he should just spend more of his energy focusing on the video right now. “You guys gotta pick your heads up a little bit,” Brady cut in at a quiet moment, noticing the way things looked through the lens. “You‘re looking all the way down at the phone. Gotta see more of your pretty little faces.” Making them look good was, in fact, his job. “Sorry to pull you away from your riveting ‘wipe it down’ challenges but editing magic can’t fix staring at the top of your heads.”

When it came to the nature of his job sometimes there were people he met up with for a collab and it turned out they were not what he thought they’d be like, but then there were people he knew and trusted and genuinely genuinely enjoyed working with. Max wasn’t the type of person to lead onto the fact he didn’t particularly care for someone anyway. But today he didn’t have to put on a face, because his normal collab team was there. This isn't the first time he'd done videos with Maisie or Forest, and it wouldn't be the last considering Max genuinely felt relaxed around them. And luckily Brady was there too, which would make it more fun because all of his favorites were in one place. Yet Max didn’t feel like he could engage with him like he usually did in videos, which was... strange. He’d been staring at his phone when he heard the quip, and his usual time to fuck with Brady on camera smile crossed his lips. But instead of making some joke about how he always knew Brady thought they were cute — his brain stopped himself, for once. Brady has always rolled his eyes at the joking in the past, but now that it was finally... real, Max knew that it would be too much. Instead, he swallowed his joke. “A little rude of you to interrupt us getting to see five hundred Harley Quinn’s,” he teased instead, all the while lifting his head just as the others did. They moved a little to the side, situating so they could view it better with some muttering thrown between them. He glanced back up to the camera, trying to fight looking directly at Brady, like he was already paying him too much attention and would unsettle him somehow. Jesus. He needed to get back to TikTok. “We good?”

“Yeah, hate to interrupt but I’m trying to do my job here.” Brady watched them readjust and make themselves seen more clearly, and he double checked through the camera. “Perfect. Now go on.” He held up a hand. “Don’t let me hold you back.” That is, until he had to fix something again. Damn influencers just couldn’t handle themselves on camera. But things continued on well, with Brady staying quiet (for the most part). Each of them had chosen a tiktok trend for the video, and Brady had just reset the recording when Forest brought up his pick — to react to the whole walk in on your partner naked trend. And instantly Brady flashed back to a video recorded for not a soul to see, one that was simply meant for them to laugh at after Max had sneakily interrupted one of Brady’s video calls. He paused where he was, head still ducked toward the camera, but his eyes flicked upward to peer at Max. He wanted to laugh or to make a comment, but obviously he couldn’t. In fact, he quickly became aware that even this look might be too telling, and he managed to pull himself away and sit back again, biting the inside of his cheek to keep from smirking.

God, it was hard to keep it all to himself for once. Brady typically had no problem being quiet or reserved about just about anything in his personal life, but something about the thought of all this, the idea that it needed to stay a secret was making some feeling build up in his stomach. At first he couldn’t place it, but then he thought it might just be...excitement. It was sort of thrilling keeping a secret like this. No one else had a clue Brady and Max could lump themselves in with these people they were all playfully making fun of, and that was kinda hot, in a way Brady didn’t totally know how to explain. “You better hope you don’t get demonetized for all this,” Brady settled on pointing out after a bit. He was just itching to direct his train of thought elsewhere, away from Max and the video and— “Supposed to be family friendly here.” And yet, here he was. And so much for thinking of something else. “Although I guess this is why you decided to scrap the ‘recreating tiktok trends’ idea, huh?” he teased. A bold move to just kind of talk about it instead, perhaps. But then maybe that was the key to deflecting after all. Brady hadn’t quite cracked the secret relationship code yet.

The rest of what followed was pretty procedure, with all of them trying to get in angle before continuing on, exchanging jokes before Forest let them in on his latest favorite Tik Tok trend. And Max's stomach flipped almost immediately, and he had to *fight* himself from putting his own self on blast for doing the same shit. To Brady, not quite that long ago, either. Max's whole brand was built on him not holding himself back when it came to certain things, but now more than ever he was trying to. He managed to not look at him as he laughed about the choice, but as Forest was flipping through his phone to find his favorite one, Max's gaze drifted towards Brady’s general direction. He tried to play it off by laughing at some offhand joke the others made as they talked about the trend in general, though his heart thumped heavily against his ribcage for a moment. No one knew the things they did in their own apartment; all of the private videos and pictures he had already. He wanted to tease Brady about it so badly, but this wasn't the time or the place. Still, something possessed him to make some type of comment. Although subtle. But it was no different than his usual jokes on camera, or so he hoped. "If anything they'll pay us more." He joked, Forrest immediately agreeing with him as they all looked up. "Is that you creatively suggesting we do some? Because we can do that." Max playfully took Maisie's following comment of please don't in stride, and his smile grew larger as he shrugged. "Okay, fine. Fair enough." He took that moment to lock eyes with Brady, though to the outside eye it would only look like a tease to the audience only. "Maybe we can film that later, then." He diverted his attention back to Forrest then, like that hadn't been a direct comment to Brady. His stomach twisted, and it felt like a dangerous game suddenly. No one could know. "C'mon. We gotta see some of these TikToks for inspiration now. Like 'n subscribe if you want a part 2."

“I’m not suggesting shit,” Brady insisted. Really, he wasn’t, because that whole hypothetical situation just reeked of disaster. At least Maisie was on his side. Brady wasn’t paying too much attention to her, though. He was looking at Max, maybe hadn’t even realized how long he had been, but it registered with him when Max looked back at him too. If he wasn’t already sitting, he might have dramatically done so just then. The instant Max’s words washed over him, Brady began to register what he’d said, and so many different things entered his mind he could barely keep up. Max may not have know the box he had just opened up, but Brady all too quickly realized that filming something later sounded like a really good idea. Unfortunately, though, he couldn’t start up that conversation now. He had to force himself back into reality once again, tearing his eyes away from Max and back down to his phone in his lap. He hadn’t written down a single note in about ten minutes. He hoped to god any editing mistake wouldn’t be noticeable later.

Aside from the accidental proposition, the rest of their time together went smoothly. Brady made it through without another major hiccup, and when it was time to get his things together, he did so quickly. Not enough that he was clearly in a rush, but he was just... distracted now, and ready to be done. He hung around with them another few minutes before telling Maisie and Forest he was going to go put his stuff away, and he’d see them around. He carried his camera and mic into his room and shut the door behind him, closing his eyes and sighing once he did. God. He wondered briefly if it was always going to be like this, but then, as usual, he didn’t like to think about it for long. So he put his camera back in its bag and set his mic down gently, and then immediately went for the joint he hadn’t had a chance to smoke earlier today. Now seemed as good a time as any.

Max had to force himself not to make anymore comments for the duration of the video, as discreet as they may be. He knew it was pushing it; pushing the line of saying something that fans could read into. Although that never stopped fans from looking too deeply into things before, it was different now, because now they actually had something to hide. It was a good ten minutes after Brady had gone to put his equipment away that Forest and Maisie left, but not before making plans to film a collaboration again sometime next week. He'd joked around with them for a few minutes; throwing out possible ideas. Although in the back of his mind, all he could think about was Brady and how he should separate work Brady from --- boyfriend Brady, and fuck that thought alone had his heart racing, still. And probably why he had such a problem keeping him out of his mind when he was supposed to be filming normal - non suspicious content. After the two had left, Max took a minute to push the chairs back to where they were normally, converting everything from the filming setup back to their normal living space. Margaret was no doubt still napping in his room, but instead of going there to join her just yet, he made his way to Brady’s instead. His lips quirked into a small smile automatically as he knocked twice, before letting himself in. His eyes immediately fell on Brady, and it took nothing for him to already made his way over to him. “Hey,” he said simply, gaze softening as he saw him with the joint in his hand. “Mind if I hang out?”

Brady cracked open his window before bringing his lighter over to his bed. He could hear Forest and Maisie still there, and he didn’t think much about it. He knew Max would come here later. After he’d lit the joint and set the lighter down and lay there for a few minutes, he heard their friends start to head out. And sure enough, just another few minutes later, two knocks on his door preceded Max coming into his room. Brady smiled a bit, but then shrugged. “I dunno. I might,” he said, following Max’s gaze to the lit joint in his hand. “Kinda expecting someone.” He brought it up to his lips to take a hit, then pushed himself to sit up and look at Max again. He spoke as he exhaled, the smoke surrounding his words: “Waiting for my boyfriend to come smoke with me.” The slight smile remained on his face for a moment, and then he shrugged once again, and he held it out in Max’s direction for him to take. “I don’t think he’ll mind.”

Hearing Brady openly call him his boyfriend, even when it was just them, still affected him as strongly as the first time he'd admitted that's what he'd wanted. The smile didn't seem to want to fade as he took the opportunity to finish crossing the distance. "Oh yeah? Seems kind of like a jerk leaving you waiting for so long." Max lowered himself onto the bed, easily sliding himself up to sit with him, facing him as he reached his hand out to take the joint that was offered to him, fingers brushing against Brady's. He slowly withdrew it to bring it to his lips, taking a long hit off of the joint, letting the smoke billow around him in an exhale as he handed it back, shifting a bit to make himself comfortable. "I don't know, he might." He teased. "I might get too high and try something."

“Yeah. He is kind of a jerk.” Brady watched Max take it from him and bring it to his lips, nearly mesmerized by the sight even if he’d seen it countless times before. “Doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut.” He hadn’t forgotten what Max had said, of course. Wasn’t sure how he could. And Max knew what he’d done. Brady hummed at Max’s comment, nodding as if he were thinking on it. “Yeah?” It was nice to joke about it, to be comfortable with it. It always was. And Brady knew it would be, allowing him to get through the whole time they had to hide it. “Guess I’m gonna have to get you pretty high then,” he teased right back. He lay back again, stretching his legs over Max’s lap and lifting his arms up behind his head. “You did say you wanted to film something later.” He shook his head. “Dumbass.”

"Oh, huh, sounds like he just has lots of interesting things to say." Joking with Brady had always been easy, something that had not changed even as their relationship shifted into something else entirely. Max felt light; comfortable as Brady lifted his legs to rest them on his lap, and one of his arms came to rest over them, hand resting on his calf as he looked at him like he didn't know what he was talking about. Which he absolutely did. "And how do you know I wasn't just speaking to the fans?" It wasn't a second until he dropped the act, other hand coming to rest on his knee absentmindedly, fingers playing at the fabric of his pants. His grin was back in full force. "Knew that got your attention. Sounds like you liked the idea, so who's the dumbass now?"

“Because I’m not fucking clueless.” And, like, the very direct and obvious eye contact. But mostly the first part. Brady held his hand out for the joint again and Max passed it back to him. He rolled his eyes as Max spoke, dropping his head back and holding his breath for a moment before letting it out, watching it rise above him. “You,” he said without thinking, a firm nod of his head just for good measure. “You’re still the dumbass.” He was the one who’d said it in front of their friends, and on camera, after all. He was surprisingly able to let it go, though, instead spending the next... he didn’t even know how long just relaxing there with Max, passing the joint back and forth, which happened to be one of his favorite activities. He’d put on music as well. Then, Brady wasn’t sure exactly how it’d gotten here, but at some point he was getting up from the bed with a laugh to pull his shirt up over his head and throw it to the floor because he was suddenly too hot. Not that he expected Max to care in the slightest. When he turned back to where the blond was on his bed, Brady couldn’t help but chuckle again. “Dude, you are stoned,” he pointed out, as if it weren’t obvious, but seeing the look in Max’s eyes made it even more so. And not that he didn’t look exactly the same, but still. He slid back onto the bed, this time staying sitting straight up and getting a little closer, his body fully relaxed as his arm pressed against Max’s. “Gonna try something or what?” he asked lowly, red rimmed eyes flicking down to Max’s lips. “Might get lucky.”

Max couldn't say how long they spent just continuing on joking, passing the joint back and fourth as music played faintly in the background. He was completely relaxed, until it turned into him getting.... really fucking high. His eyes burned, but in a way he definitely didn't mind because the rest of him felt relaxed and content. He was sprawled out with his legs stretched out in front of him, hands resting on the bed below him as he leaned back a bit - having changed positions at some point. And then he was just lazily watching Brady strip off his shirt, eyes trailing down his torso as his jaw dropped open a bit, eyes dazed. "Me?" He echoed, words slightly delayed, because Brady was clearly correct. "'M not that bad," he grinned, expression lazy as the other moved back to the bed with him. Max straightened up a bit as Brady situated himself behind him, and immediately he turned his attention onto the figure beside him. "Dunno. What's your boyfriend gonna think?" Words were quiet as he leaned his head in towards his, the smell of weed permeating through the air making everything seem delightfully hazy. Max's gaze met eyes that were clearly just as stoned as his own. But neither of them cared. He smiled again, faintly, as his attention was pulled to his lips. And fuck he'd been thinking about kissing him all day, and now he got to. "Fuck it anyway, I guess," he teased, leaning in not nearly as coordinated as he usually was (and even then, it wasn't by much). His nose bumped a bit against Brady's, and he huffed up a small laugh before all too slowly brushing their lips together. He didn't rush it, not this time - instead taking his time like this was the first time he'd ever kissed him, or something.

A comment about how his boyfriend didn’t seem to mind died in his throat as Max closed the small distance between them. It was slow, taking a moment even for their lips to touch, but Brady didn’t care. It seemed better that way, almost. All other thoughts had slipped away and he was focused on nothing but the boy in front of him, the way it felt to touch him and call him his. The music still playing and the familiar way Max smelled mixed with the weed made Brady relax even further. He brought a hand up to Max’s shoulder and slid it slowly down his arm as he leaned in closer, trying to kiss him deeper. There was a small noise of pure content from the back of his throat, and only then did Brady pull away again. He’d set what was left of the joint down a bit ago with the intent to go back to it later, but he supposed later was now, because he reached over to his desk to retrieve it with his lighter. Once he lit it up again, he tossed his lighter back on the desk, brought the joint to his lips and inhaled deeply. He slid both arms around Max’s shoulders, pulling him in close and pressing their lips together before exhaling. It was the first time he’d shotgunned like that with him, but goddamn if it didn’t instantly drive him crazy. His free hand went to Max’s hair, curling in it tightly to keep him close and kiss him hard. The smoke was between them and Brady’s senses were overwhelmed. While all of his muscles felt loose, he wanted desperately to be closer to him. He couldn’t remember the last time he and Max had gotten this high together, and he was most certainly feeling the effects. “My boyfriend,” he finally said against his lips, as if his brain was just now catching up to the earlier conversation, ”loves this.” He tugged his hair just slightly, leaning back so Brady could look at him, take in just how fucking gorgeous Max was. Brady licked his lips. “Right?” And he brought his other hand around to hold the joint up to Max’s lips himself.

Little shockwaves rolled down his skin as Brady's mouth moved against his; the kiss deepening as they sat there together. Max pressed himself closer, already addicted to Brady's hand on his skin and the moan that he could feel against his own mouth. Once the kiss was over, he didn't move away, instead opening his eyes to gaze at him half-lidded as he grabbed the joint and lighter again. Max didn't think twice about his eyes following him; studying him like it was the most natural thing in the world. The profile of his face, the way his hands lifted and lit the joint, how he looked holding it between his lips. His chest constricted and they were some of the same fucking things he noticed when he wasn't high, but it was all Max could think about right now. He was. So when he decided to pull him in, he didn't think twice about leaning in toward it. Their lips were pressed together once more, and this time Max's lips automatically parted. He could feel the smoke billow into his mouth, and his heart pounded as he slowly inhaled, consumed with the smoke and Brady and the way the music was playing rhythmically around them. It was his turn to let out a small moan of encouragement. The hand tangling in his hair didn’t help matters, so familiar yet somehow even hitting him even harder than it usually did. The whole action had an effect on him immediately, his thoughts racing although he couldn't seem to hang on to a single one.

"Fuck," he said softly. It was unreal at how hot that was, and Max's eyes dropped to his mouth as his tongue flicked at his bottom lip, still tasting the smoke and Brady. A shiver rolled down his spine as his hair was pulled back, and he lifted his eyes back to his, and he was already starting to grow hard. "Yeah." It was a quiet whisper, something he wasn't even sure he said - too distracted by Brady bringing the joint to his lips. Max held eye contact with him as he leaned in, taking a hit off of the joint he was holding for him. He let it linger as he let the smoke fill his lungs, everything overwhelming him in the best possible way. Smoking with Brady had never quite been like this. It was intimate; time slowed down. He decided he liked it. A lot. Max couldn't seem to stop looking at him; stop watching him as he let the smoke billow from his mouth slowly, floating between them. His hands came up to rest on his waist, fingers trailing over his skin because he couldn’t help himself. "Think you do too." He finally dropped his gaze back down to Brady’s lips, and it was clear where his mind was. His lips lifted into another slow smile. “Kiss me again.”

It was hypnotizing, seeing the joint Brady held for him between Max’s lips while he held his gaze. Brady had never done anything like this before. Usually at this point they would put on a movie, maybe fuck around and laugh at things, but this felt different. Brady wanted him. It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, obviously, but coupled with feeling like he could melt into the mattress at any moment, it was kinda blowing his mind. He zoned out a bit, sitting there staring at Max and barely registering the smoke he’d exhaled now rising to the ceiling. Brady’s mouth hung open slightly as he gawked at him. But then Max spoke, and shit, Brady didn’t have to be told twice. He broke free from his trance and let go of Max’s hair so he could lick his fingers to pinch the end of the joint and put it out again. Once he was sure it was, he put it back on the desk, and then turned once again to Max.

Brady was up on his knees, staring down at Max sitting back on his bed, and Brady hardly even noticed when a soft “Fuck” fell from his lips, just as Max had done a few moments ago. Word of the hour, Brady thought. His brain couldn’t quite articulate anything else at the moment. He was gazing down through a figurative and literal haze at his boyfriend waiting for Brady to kiss him, and it was so wildly hot, of course Brady had to comply. Brady leaned over him slightly, arms falling to the mattress on either side of Max’s body. He took another moment just to look at his face before kissing him again, once again slowly and deep. Brady leaned forward even further, urging Max to lie back, and Brady focused on holding himself up to keep from just collapsing on top of him. His hips naturally pressed down against Max’s and he could feel that Max had already started to get hard, and Brady wasn’t far behind. But it caused him to groan, and he tore away from him to sit up quickly and reach for his shirt. “I wanna touch you,” he said quietly, pulling at the shirt and with it, Max. And he did. He wanted to lie there with him, feel Max’s skin against his, and just kiss him while they both felt like they were fuckin’ floating. “Take this off.”

Max couldn't get enough of touching him normally let alone now, when everything seemed to slow down and he was noticing every little thing about Brady. He wanted to press himself closer; touch the skin he'd seen and touched and kissed a countless times before. But each time he was still just as into it; into him. Max's mouth moved against his just as slowly; deepening the kiss like he wanted to disappear into him. His hands slid around to his back as he guided him back on the bed, and he automatically lowered himself onto the mattress, groaning himself as their hips pressed together. Everything felt so much more intense in a way he couldn't describe, and he looked up at him as his hands explored the dips and muscles in his back, eyes trailing over his body until he heard Brady's quiet words. As though he was just realizing it was on to begin with, Max stretched up, swallowing as he lifted his shirt over his head and tossed it on the ground behind him, somewhere on the floor. He then fell back onto the mattress, bouncing a little as he wrapped his arm around the back of Brady's shoulders, tugging him closer. He wanted to feel their skin pressed together; wanted to touch him just as much. He didn't waste time before pressing his lips to Brady's skin once more, but this time they found his neck instead, mouth carefully brushing over his skin - his focus entirely on just what it felt like to touch him.

Brady helped him pull his shirt over his head and then Max tossed it aside, and Brady was met with the sight of him below him, once again waiting for Brady to lean down and kiss him again. Max’s arms looped around his shoulders and his lips found Brady’s neck, and Brady’s eyes slipped shut as he sighed at the sensations. He wedged his own hands under Max’s body to wrap around him, essentially hugging him from their position on the bed, and fuck, it felt good just to hold him like that. They were chest to chest, Brady’s nose nuzzling in Max’s hair as the blond kissed his neck. Part of Brady never wanted this to end, the slow kissing, but the other part of him was turned on and now really wanted Max. That part eventually won.

Brady pushed himself up just a bit, only to come face to face again and kiss him quickly. Then he sat up, straddling Max’s waist, and got a little dizzy for a moment; clearly he’d sat up too fast, and his brain was already foggy as hell. But he didn’t care. He reached for Max’s jeans, undoing the button and the zipper, but not moving to pull them off quite yet. Instead, he bent down to kiss Max’s neck now. His hands traveled just below, sliding down Max’s chest slowly as Brady kissed along his collarbone, down to his chest as well. Then Brady shifted to one side, lying beside Max on the bed so he could slide one arm behind him again. The other remained on his stomach and Brady continued its path, all the way beneath his jeans so he could palm him over his boxers. He watched Max’s face as he did, waiting for his reaction, then ducked his head down to kiss the skin of his chest again. Brady swiped his tongue over one of his nipples, and moved his hand over him slowly at the same time, rubbing him through the fabric. He was intoxicated by him, always was, acting on the pure desire to make Max feel good. He licked again, slower this time, and then lifted his head to watch Max’s face again. “Okay?” he asked, because he could just never be too sure, even if it was far from the first time his lips and tongue and hands had been all over him like this.

Max had no complaints as Brady lifted himself up to straddle his waist, except for maybe that there was a brief loss of contact. But it was only for a moment, as soon Brady’s hand was undoing the button and zipper of his jeans, causing his breath to hitch in his throat. The lips at his collarbone caused his eyes to fall shut; his own hands exploring Brady’s skin. His head turned to the side automatically to face him as Brady fell to lay next to him instead. And seeing him there while his hand wedged itself into his open jeans was unbelievably fucking hot. His attention was pulled to that for a moment, hips shifting under the ministrations. But pretty soon his gaze was back on Brady, eyes focused in on him as he leaned down towards his chest, and immediately a soft moan escaped him as he felt his tongue swiping over his skin. His body shifted against the bed, back pressing against Brady's arm as his head fully turned to watch his face. “It’s good.” His words were murmured as though he just remembered how to speak as he shifted his body on the mattress, hand coming out to smooth down Brady's torso, eyes following the movements. The hand pressing over his boxers along with Brady's mouth was driving him insane already. His hand was moving as though it had a mind of it's own, guiding down to the front of Brady's own pants. His eyes rolled back to lock with his as he popped up the button, much like he did to him. There was heat behind his gaze, and there was no denying he was completely into this. Instead of teasing over the front of his boxers, Max instead smoothed his hand down his abdomen, fingers just barely dipping under the fabric of them and his jeans. But he didn't touch him further yet, fixated momentarily on how he was looking at him and the way he was touching him right now. "This good for you?"

A nod was all Brady could really muster for a lot of different reasons. He was still really fucking high, trying to keep his focus on what he was doing, and now he was distracted by the heat of Max’s hand dragging down his skin. He tried to watch Max’s hand and when he finally touched him, Brady sighed, breath ghosting over Max’s neck. He looked up to Max’s face again, and at that point they were just looking at each other, watching each other’s expressions with their hands on each other, and Brady felt strangely close to him in that moment. Even though it wasn’t exactly what he’d call romantic, it was a weird reminder for Brady of the trust between them. But then...maybe he was just getting into his usual drug-induced philosophy mode. He supposed he didn’t really care, because it still made him feel all fuckin’ warm.

Brady broke the eye contact so he could look down and see what he was doing, since his brain was really doing him no good and he didn’t want to fumble around. He pushed Max’s underwear down a bit, as much as he could from where he was, so he could wrap his hand around him instead. He started to stroke him, a little quicker than before, urged on by the feeling of Max’s hand on his own cock. Brady pressed his lips against Max’s cheek, the kiss clumsy and a little sloppy, but he was pretty sure neither of them really cared. He didn’t pull away quite yet, breathing him in as the arm around him tightened. He didn’t know how long they had been here already, and Brady knew his grasp on reality was just a little bit skewed at the moment, but it felt like a while — though he didn’t want to stop. Although there was a small part of him remembering they were still half dressed. He didn’t slow his movements, but he did glance down and bite his bottom lip. “You wanna take those off?” he asked. Because frankly, he didn’t care either way. He’d never felt so close and loose-limbed with him like this before, had never wanted so badly just to stay right where he was and touch him just like this. The rest of it was hardly a concern.

The way Brady was looking at him, the way his breath brushed over his skin, the feeling of their hands on each other - it was all overwhelming to Max at that moment. All he wanted was to be impossibly close; to touch him in any way he could. His brain and body were relaxed and in overdrive all at once, and it wasn't something he'd particularly experienced before. Max had been stoned before, but he'd never wanted to touch someone so badly while he was as he did now. Max's hand continued to stroke him, varying in speed and pressure, paying attention to what Brady liked the most. A small sound of agreement was audible at Brady's question, and he leaned in to capture his lips in a desperate kiss, reluctantly releasing Brady's cock. He withdrew his hand to his own jeans, still making eye contact with his boyfriend, and looped his fingers under the fabric of his jeans and underwear, in the process nudging Brady's hand away. He arched his hips up on the bed as he worked the fabric down his legs, kicking it off the rest of the way. Instead of immediately going back to the position they were in, Max took in the sight of him laying there, and he was continuously struck by how beautiful he was; how much he wanted to touch him - in innocent and not so innocent ways. Right now in particular, his need to do the latter outweighed the former. Max slowly sat up, moving into a sitting position. Though that didn't stop him from stretching down, pressing his lips to the skin of Brady's chest, leading opened mouthed kisses down his torso as far as he could reach. Max lifted his head, gaze unfocused and filled with desire for his boyfriend. One of his hands dipped down under Brady's jeans again, fingers curling around his cock for a few brief moments, stroking him again before letting go. His hand instead slid up to the waist band, giving the fabric a harsh tug downwards as his lips quirked up in a half smile. "Can't touch you anymore if these aren't off either."

Brady had that same sort of hypnotized look on his face as before when he looked down at Max now tugging on his pants. It took him a second to register, but once he caught back up, Brady mirrored what Max had just done, lifting his hips up off the mattress to wiggle out of his jeans and underwear and discard them on the floor with the rest of their clothes. Then it was just the two of them again, nothing between them, just looking at each other. Brady couldn’t help but bring a hand down to Max’s cheek. He held it there, rubbing his thumb gently over the skin, admiring him in a way he used to be afraid to. “I know I’m high,” Brady blurted, “but I don’t think you’ve ever looked hotter.” His red eyes, flushed cheeks, his lips, the way he sat there looking at him as they both simmered in the anticipation — it was a lot for Brady to take in. If it wasn’t obvious before, it was clear now how hard Brady was, and Max was just inches away from his cock now that his pants were off. Brady still had a hand on his cheek and he moved it toward the back of Max’s head just slightly. Not enough to actually move or urge him yet, but... a hint, mostly. “They’re off now,” Brady noted with a quick glance down to the floor, where all of their clothes were now lying. He looked back at Max, his free arm holding himself slightly upright, and smirked down at him. “Your move.”

As Max situated himself over Brady's legs, he leaned into the hand that caressed his cheek, looking at him for the billionth time that night like he'd never seen him before. He moved his head slightly to place a lingering kiss to his palm while it was still there, hands raising to rest against Brady’s thighs. “Wish you could see yourself, too,” his tone was slightly raspy, and God, from this angle Max’s desire from him grew even further. "Freaking... unbelievable." He drug his hands up his thighs to grasp at his hips, and he couldn’t think of anything else to say, because he was too focused on wanting to get his mouth on every inch of him. Brady's words only served as encouragement; the familiar hand on his head making his whole body feel hot already. He dipped his head down to press his lips over Brady's left thigh, tongue brushing over his skin. He trailed kisses to his inner thigh before lifting his head just slightly, breath ghosting over Brady's cock for just a brief moment before even his weed-addled brain told him enough was enough. Max slid him into his mouth inch by inch, one hand dropping to pull one of his legs closer to him while the other dropped between them. His eyes were hazy as he looked up at him, fingertips ghosting along the base of his cock and grazing his balls, until his palm cupped them, squeezing. He continued moving his mouth over him at a steady pace, completely focused on how he felt under his tongue. A few moments passed before his hand moved to grasp the base of his cock instead, inching him deeper into his mouth, wanting to make the most of how good every single thing felt.

Brady felt like they were moving in slow motion, like time and the world around them had slowed down — yet he still didn’t really have time to process before Max’s mouth was on him. It was like Brady didn’t even know what it felt like. His head dropped back and he didn’t even bother to suppress the moan that followed; they were home alone, after all. Or he thought he remembered they were. He didn’t really care at this point, regardless. His hand had traveled to Max’s neck and now threaded gently through his hair. Brady was absolutely overwhelmed by the feeling of Max taking him in deeper, and he showed it by moaning again. Completely fuckin’ shameless, which was typical, really, but the weed was certainly helping. And Brady had been smoking for years — had spent a few times on an especially strong high, and had slept with Max after smoking or drinking a little, of course they had. But never had it been such an intense physical thing for Brady. Max had that effect on him, and always had; he made Brady feel things for the first time and experience familiar things in an entirely different way.

Brady lifted his hips off the bed a bit, meeting Max’s mouth, matching the rhythm of the slide of his lips over Brady’s cock. He felt it through his entire body. He was still propping himself up on one arm while the other hand fisted a little tighter in Max’s hair. Brady made himself look down again, watching him and the way his own hips raised desperately to feel more of it. “Jesus, Max,” he breathed, shaking his head in near disbelief. He didn’t know why he was driving him so insane. Well, he did know; it was Max, he always drove him insane. But Brady felt especially out of control tonight. He eventually let his head drop back again, and he relaxed so he could lie back and look at the ceiling instead. Looking at Max with his dick in his mouth was almost too much right now. Now both of Brady’s hands were in Max’s hair and he continued to roll his hips up into his mouth. But he let out another strangled sort of groan and stilled, though his hands continued to clutch at the blond hair below him. “You gotta stop,” Brady said quietly, his voice lower than he expected it to be. He gave Max’s hair a tug, urging him away, and for good measure added, “Now.”

Those hands tightening in his hair caused chills to roll down his spine every fucking time, the way he tugged at his hair every time something felt good always made Max fill dizzy. Only tonight it was amplified, his own cock unbelievably hard at this point, completely immersed in the way Brady sounded and looked. He relaxed his throat as he rolled up into his mouth, a choked moan vibrating around him in the process. His hands had drifted back to his thighs, gripping onto them tightly as he only used his mouth. His eyes would glance back up at him, and his heart was beating so rapidly in his chest, his stomach fucking tightening at the sight of him. It seemed like no time and all the time had passed when Brady yanked his head back. "Why?" Max's voice was hoarse; his gaze half-lidded as his tongue swiped over his bottom lip, and he could still taste him. "You gonna come?" His head had been tugged back, and he respected the request as he didn't lean back in to wrap his mouth back around him like he wanted to do. Instead, Max's hands continued to travel up his thighs, one of his palms brushing over his cock teasingly, until they reached his stomach. Both hands smoothed up Brady's chest, his own body moving so he could do so, and he moved to straddle his waist. "Maybe that's what I want." His eyes were still fixated on his before he stretched down to press a kiss to the corner of his mouth. He leaned back just a bit so he could reach his hand back, so near Brady's dick again. "Sure you want me to stop?"

Brady was so beyond used to fondly rolling his eyes and telling Max to shut up at this point, that likely would have been the response in another situation. But his brain was so clouded by both not being sober and his own ridiculous arousal that that’s not what he did at all. Instead, his hand reached down for Max’s, catching his wrist before he could touch him again. Something about Max’s teasing, holding that over his head was unbearably hot, but it triggered something in Brady. His need to not be the only one trying to hold himself together. “I said stop.” Of course he knew Max wasn’t actually going to push him or overstep what Brady had asked. But he also knew that Max was playing a game here, and well, two could play. Brady held his gaze while he moved Max’s hand away, slowly and deliberately, just to be very clear that was what he was doing. Then he rested the hand on Max’s hip, the other sliding up his back, urging him to come back down again. His hand had reached the back of Max’s neck by the time their lips met again. His fingertips simultaneously pressed against the skin of Max’s hip and the back of his neck, just enough to hold him close in both places at once. But then the hand on Max’s neck came to rest on his other hip instead. Brady broke the kiss so he could urge Max to move, pushing him back into the bed and immediately climbing on top of him. He did what Max had just been doing, straddling his hips. Brady ground his hips down against him, Max’s cock rubbing against his own, and Brady leaned over him with one hand on the mattress beside Max’s head. “Then I wouldn’t be able to fuck you.” Brady looked down and reached a hand between them, wrapping around both of their dicks together. But he didn’t move it, instead rocking his hips forward again slowly. “And that’s what I want.” He brought his gaze up to meet Max’s. “Did you want something different?”

He stilled his hand immediately as Brady grabbed his hand and told him to stop again, eyes still locked with his. His lips quirked into a brief smile despite how worked up he was already, skin breaking out in goosebumps as he felt his hands travel up his body, and his eyes traced his movements. Max's brain went quiet, and fuck, it was like Brady had never touched him before because his body felt hyper-focused on every single touch. Max kissed him back, deepening it automatically as Brady held him there. He was taken in by the actions, previous teasing now forgotten when he was guided to lay against the mattress himself. And now Brady was on top of him, their cocks brushing together every time he rocked his hips, and a low moan escaped him as his hands came to settle on Brady’s hips. Max couldn’t stop fucking looking at him, like he was mesmerized by everything he did - and maybe he was. He really couldn’t bring himself to care, and he swallowed another moan before shaking his head. “Gonna drive me fuckin’ crazy, Brady,” he managed to say. “You know that’s what I want.” His eyes fell between them, and his hips lifted up as Brady rocked against him, and a shock of pleasure momentarily distracted him. He rolled his head back against the bed to gaze up at him, fingers digging into his hips as he studied his face, his lips --- the way he was moving. “Or we could do it just like this.” His voice lowered, feeling hoarse. “With you right here. Riding me,” he rolled his hips up again, hands sliding to Brady's waist instead. “Just fucking want you. Whatever you want.” Max just wanted to keep touching him; wanted to feel impossibly closer as though they didn’t already did this on the regular. "Don't think I'm ever gonna get sick of lookin' at you."

Knowing he was driving Max crazy always spurred Brady on, even if he knew it, in theory. He still liked to hear it. Everything Max said was turning him on, actually. Plus, his hands on Brady’s waist caused him to keep moving, keep grinding against him with his hand wedged between them to touch the both of them. Max’s second suggestion rang in Brady’s ears and he couldn’t decide at this point which idea he liked better. He sighed as he thought it over, ducking down to mouth at Max’s neck. Still, his brain wasn’t really working. He couldn’t really think of anything beyond Max and how he currently felt beneath him. “Or,” Brady said, lips still on Max’s neck, “we could do both.” His heart was pounding in his chest. He was rocking his hips steadily now, rubbing against Max with every movement, painfully aware of how hard both of them were (and how close he’d just been a few minutes ago). “Would you like that?” Brady’s hand on the mattress twisted in the sheet below him as he picked up his head to look at his boyfriend. His skin felt hot all over. “You want me to ride you and then fuck you?”

The thought of it alone was driving him even more insane, and Brady dropped down to his elbow instead of his hand to hold him up. He caught Max’s lips in a quick kiss, moaning as he did. And Jesus, he’d have to stop again soon. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d gotten so goddamn worked up so quickly. But at first he just slowed down, moving against him with much less desperation. He dragged his lips over Max’s skin and to his ear, catching his earlobe between his teeth for a moment. Then he finally pried himself away, reluctantly as all hell, because there were more important matters to attend to now. Like getting the lube and holding it out toward Max with a raise of his eyebrows. “You wanna do the honors?” he asked, and then instantly broke into a giggle at the way it came out. Jesus, Brady was swaying a little where he sat up. To be so high and so turned on. But he didn’t think much more about it, sliding back down next to Max on the bed and leaning over to kiss him, holding his jaw to angle it toward him.

Max’s mind just about shut down with that suggestion, like that thought had not even occurred to him, and it hadn't. He suddenly forgot how to breathe, Brady's kisses to his neck combined with those damn words turning him on more than he even thought possible. Having him slowly grind on top of him was completely overwhelming in the fucking best way, and his arms snaked around his waist to pull him tighter against him. Thinking about it had another groan falling from his lips before he managed to speak. "Fuck. Yeah." He breathed, pupils blown and looking right into Brady's own eyes as their hips rocked together, and it was all so mind blowingly consuming. "Yeah, I'd like that." Complete and utter understatement, but his brain couldn’t think, wouldn’t be able to think with how Brady looked right now even if they weren’t both high out of their minds. Brady’s teeth pulling at his earlobe caused another moan, mindlessly arching his body up to press further against his. And then just a few moments later Brady was to the side of him and reaching for the lube to pass it to him. Max wordlessly propped himself up on his elbow, just as uncoordinated as his boyfriend was at that moment, but he did not let that get in his way as he popped the cap of the lube open with his thumb. All he could focus on what was about to happen, on how much he wanted Brady pressed against him again.

Max sat up for a moment to spread the lube onto his fingers, before he set the bottle to the side and moved back to his previous position, head facing Brady’s. His eyes trailed down his body as his fingers trailed over his cock again, drifting downwards until they pressed against his entrance. He dipped his head to press his lips against his shoulder, leaving a series of open-mouthed kisses up to his neck as he carefully pressed his finger further into him — one, and then once he was relaxed enough, another. Max heart wouldn’t settle in his chest as he met his lips in an immediately desperate kiss. He only stopped to lean his head back slightly, watching his face for any discomfort. His voice didn’t feel like his own as he spoke, still hoarse and slow. He wanted him. In any fucking way. And right now it felt like he was addicted to everything. “Good?”

As familiar as it was at this point for Brady to feel Max touch him like this, it still kind of made him feel a little exposed, lying there on the bed with his legs open like that. It was just that now, he didn’t really care about feeling exposed. In fact, he liked the way it felt; it was a part of him only Max had ever gotten to see and feel, and for Brady that meant a lot more than he was usually able to voice to him. He hoped Max knew. Though maybe he really should just speak up on shit more. Now wasn’t the time for it, though. Brady’s mind was downright useless, his brain a puddle as all he could do right now was moan and try to control his breathing. ”Yeah,” he replied, too abruptly, maybe, but fuck if he cared. He was turned on as all hell, watching his fine ass boyfriend get him ready with the promise of Brady returning the favor later on, so sue him if he was a little enthusiastic at the moment. Plus, he didn’t want Philosophical High Brady to have any time to make a comeback in his head right now. All he wanted to think about was Max. And his dick. It hadn’t been difficult at all for Brady to relax, and soon he was nudging Max’s hand away, leaning up a bit to kiss him again.

Then Brady went to the side table again to fish out two condoms (one for later — his stomach twisted) as Max lay back on the bed again. Brady straddled Max’s thighs and tore open one of them, reaching down to roll it onto him. Fuck, Brady could physically feel the anticipation pulsing through his entire body. He licked his lips as he looked up at Max, finally moving to settle over him, one hand still reaching between them to guide Max inside of him. He slowly lowered himself onto his cock, half-sighing half-moaning as he did. Brady loved seeing Max’s face at this exact moment, but right now it was like he’d never seen it before. He stayed still for a few moments, adjusting to the feeling, letting his hands run slowly over Max’s stomach and chest. Brady let his hands stay there on his chest, a support as he started to move against him. It was a mirror of his action just a few minutes ago, grinding against him, and god, was Brady glad Max had suggested this. All of his senses were particularly overwhelmed. Brady couldn’t tell if it was because of the weed or just because it was Max. “This okay?” he asked breathlessly, even if he knew the answer damn well. It certainly would never hurt to ask.

Max couldn't seem to get his mind to settle down when it came to him, which shouldn't have been surprising, considering he was never able to really stop ever since they started all those months ago. Seeing Brady now, moaning under his touch as he stretched him carefully, and him laid out like this was an all powerful reminder this was his boyfriend. That he didn't have to hide how much he was completely fucking into him; into every sound and move he made. He'd never done such a good job at hiding how much he liked that, anyway. His brain completely stopped thinking the moment Brady climbed back on top of him only to roll the condom onto him himself, and fuck if that wasn't one of the hottest images ever, that is until Brady slowly lowered himself down on his cock, and the sight of it completely beat everything else. A sharp sigh pulled from his lips as Brady's hips rocked just like earlier, but now more intense than ever. He felt so perfect and Max's eyes felt so heavy; not sure if he was more intoxicated by this or all the damn weed. "More than okay. You kidding me?" His voice was strained as his head knocked back against the mattress, and he couldn't bring himself to feign a laugh, tone completely taken over by his desire for this guy. Brady's hands burned against his skin, and he was already so overwhelmed with this alone, he didn't know how it'd feel later. With him fucking him after this. Jesus.

The thought of it combined with the overwhelming sensation of Brady wrapped around him had Max's hips rocking up and into him, eyes fixed on his face. "So hot." The words were breathless, and he stilled his hips until Brady was ready for more. When it was clear he was, he rolled his hips up into him again, hands steadying at his hips tightly, before one let go to slide up Brady's chest, drifting until it wound around his neck. He tugged him down towards him for a kiss as they moved together, his other hand still pressing tightly against Brady's hip. He couldn't decide if he wanted to keep watching him or keep kissing him or keep touching him, because he somehow wanted to do everything at once. "Love being inside you like this." He murmured against his lips before breaking apart, looking at him for the hundredth million time. Max was so turned on by him; already wound tight. His fingers shifted into his hair, combing the hair back. "Can't wait 'till you fuck me, too." Words were punctuated by another roll of his hips; another moan. "You feel so good."

Brady sort of whined as Max moved with him, meeting Brady’s own movements to press deeper inside of him. To think there was a time in his life he’d never considered doing this, and now, with Max, he couldn’t seem to get enough. Brady’s hands moved from Max’s chest to beside his head on the mattress. When Max pulled him down by the back of his neck, Brady bent down to his elbows instead. The angle was different but easier to roll his hips down to meet Max’s thrusts, and Brady moaned shamelessly against his lips. He let Max’s words wash over him once he’d broken the kiss, and Brady sighed as his eyes fell shut. ”God, I... I can’t wait to fuck you,” he simply repeated, for lack of any better response his brain could possibly manage right now. And it was true, the anticipation was making him nearly shake, but he was also enjoying every single moment now with Max fucking him instead. He reopened his eyes to look at him again. “So good,” he agreed breathlessly, as if he knew no other words than the ones Max was speaking to him just moments before. He pushed himself up on his hands again, sitting up only enough that he could look down between them, watching the hypnotizing way Max pulled out before pushing back into him. And it was like Brady had never seen it before. It exhilarated him in a way he could hardly place.

“Fuck, isn’t it...isn’t it weird?” he asked suddenly, picking his head back up to look at Max. He was still grinding against him, all too aware of the feeling of Max’s cock inside of him, but now his mind was wandering all the same. “How we can just, like. Be inside someone. Like this.” He sighed, sitting up even further to move his hands from the mattress up to hold onto the headboard instead. “And how it’s so fucking good.” Brady knew his philosophical pondering was better saved for another time, but he couldn’t help when curiosity struck him. It wasn’t even the most misplaced conversation they’d ever had during sex; at least it had to do with what was going on right now. Still, Brady pushed it aside, mostly because he was now astounded by the way he could move now that he was holding onto something more solid. The angle was achingly good and Brady rocked his hips in a quicker, steady rhythm. “Fuck. Max.” Brady licked his lips and brought one hand up to push his own hair back quickly, holding it there for a moment. “I want you to touch me,” he told him, his throat feeling dry as he spoke. Then he braced himself again, grinding his hips down hard to try to feel Max even deeper inside of him. ”Wanna get close again.” For the third time. Maybe he had a new thing.

All he could think about was how damn lucky he was; how fucking good every single thing was. Feeling Brady take him deeper and deeper while all the sounds he made filled his senses and made him feel like he was losing control. Another moan pulled from his lips as Brady sunk down onto him; taking him deeper and deeper, and he was going absolutely fucking crazy at the new angle. Max found it hard to breathe; completely focusing on the way his boyfriend rocked down onto him continuously and every look on his face. "So weird," he murmured in agreement, both hands falling now to hold onto both of his hips, eyes dropping to watch them move together, seeing himself slide in and out of Brady. Shit. He couldn’t imagine a world right now where they wouldn’t be able to do this. "Thank God someone figured out we could *do *this." His words were breathy as he spoke, not paying all that much attention to the conversation, because he couldn't care less about the first people who founded sex right now. He cared about Brady's words; his movements.

He guided his hips back down against his cock, wanting to get as close and as deep as he could as he rolled his hips up again. A light layer of sweat broke over his skin as he moved under him, and he didn't think twice at the request. One of his hands dropped to wrap around Brady's cock, his grip firm as he stroked him. The pace was slow at first, out of time with their bodies moving together. "Fuck. Like that?" Max licked his lips, and he could feel himself get closer and closer the more they continued this. He was quickly losing control, and Brady asking to get closer to had just about killed him. “Get closer from me. Wanna see it.” Max picked up the pace, stroking Brady's cock faster the closer he got himself. He couldn’t keep holding back, having Brady move on top of him was way too much. "Gonna make me come, fuck. Fuck.” A mix between a whine and a moan left him, and he dropped his head back on the mattress, and it wasn’t long before Max froze under him, mouth falling open as his eyes shut --- completely losing it under his touch. His hand froze on Brady momentarily, his other hand still gripping his hip as his own rolled up one last time, riding out the high without thought.

Brady had his eyes shut tight, simply trying to take it all in at once — the feeling of Max’s hand on his cock while he continued to fuck him, the way he sounded as he spoke to him, urging him on. He almost didn’t realize what Max said until he stopped, and Brady opened his eyes to look down at him just as Max’s head dropped back. Brady was mesmerized, looking at his face as he came, and it was so fucking hot to just watch him. Jesus. He brought his hands down to Max’s face when he came down, and Brady didn’t realize his mouth had been open until he consciously pressed his lips together. He may as well have been drooling, honestly. He bent down to kiss Max hard, his fingertips grazing the hair at the back of his head as he held his face. He pulled back after a moment to meet his gaze. “That was really fucking hot,” he breathed. “You. Are so fucking hot.” He would have liked to just stay there, kissing him and telling him how hot he was, but there was the issue with the condom, and also the fact that Brady was still so hard it almost hurt. And he’d said that he was going to fuck Max, so as long as that was what he still wanted... that was what Brady was going to do. He slowly moved off of him, sighing as Max slipped out of him. He sat back on the bed while Max took care of the condom, and when he came back Brady reached a hand out to touch his arm and pull him in for another kiss. Then he moved to kiss his cheek instead. “I still wanna fuck you,” he said quietly. “Is that okay?” Because of course he’d understand if it wasn’t, but when he got Max’s clear go ahead that it was still okay, Brady was more than happy to hear it.

Brady shifted on the mattress a bit to make space and told him, “On your stomach.” He waited while Max did so, and then settled behind him. Music was still playing. The air still smelled strongly of the weed they smoked what felt like ages ago despite the window being open. Brady was overwhelmed but determined — to do what he set out to do, and now to get Max to come again. Brady reached down to grab Max by the hips, coaxing him back a little further and to come up onto his knees just slightly. Brady needed a better angle. He didn’t know if Max knew what he was about to do, because he’d never done it before, and Max himself had only done it to him once. But Brady was really feeling the urge to try new things tonight. Especially now, wanting to make Max feel even better than he had before to get him hard and bring him over the edge again. Brady’s hands slid from Max’s waist to his ass. He shifted to get closer, his hands spreading him open, then he leaned down to tentatively swipe his tongue over him. Brady paused, unsure if this was good despite knowing it wasn’t fucking rocket science. He was just going to roll with it unless Max told him to stop. Brady licked again and again, his movements slow but still deliberate, intent on making this good for Max. His tongue circled Max’s hole, becoming less uncertain as he went. Though he did stop after a moment to pull back and ask, “Is this okay?” Usually asking was more of a double checking thing as Brady knew the answer, but now he honestly wanted to know if this was doing anything for Max. Not everyone’s cup of tea, or whatever.

Max’s body momentarily felt like jelly as he slowly came down from his high, brain still slow to process the fact that he’d just come too soon. But it was hard to feel anything but fucking amazing with the way Brady was looking at him and kissing him as his bones sunk into the mattress below them. He kissed him back, deeply, sighing into his mouth as his hand remained gripped around his cock. Everything nearly felt slow motion as they broke apart and Max got rid of the condom, letting his body fall back onto the bed afterwards with a hum under his breath. His head swam with how good he felt, but even still, the fact that Brady hadn’t come yet weighed heavily on his mind. He kissed him back, slow and deep, and his words hit him all at once. He didn’t forget that’s what he’d said what would happen. Not even remotely, but hearing them again hit him all at once. Fuck. His limbs felt like they were made of lead and he was still caught up in afterglow, but the idea of going again sent a chill throughout his body. He’d inhaled shakily and nodded before giving his verbal agreement; encouraging it despite how sensitive his body still felt. His eyes drug down Brady’s form, stricken by thoughts of making him feel just as good. Having him inside him right after Brady rode him. It continued to make his brain explode inside his head. Metaphorically speaking.

He swallowed and shifted to do what he’d instructed, rolling over his stomach, arms folded and forehead pressed against them, feeling short of breath as Brady guided him back by his hips. He shifted so that his knees were pressed against the mattress, and he didn’t realize what Brady was planning. Excitement pooled in his stomach at feeling his hands on him; the position vulnerable - and he thought that he was going to get him ready. It was thrilling not seeing him; not knowing what he was doing. He was honestly too zoned to really question it, body still humming after having just came, and his high ever present. And then Brady’s tongue swiped over him, causing a startled moan to catch in the back of his throat. His eyes shut as his head pressed further against his arm, back arching slightly at the swipe of his tongue. Brady had never done this to him before, and Max had only done it to him once before. The tongue brushing over him caused chills to prickle at his skin, and he sucked in a deep breath the more his boyfriend continued the ministrations. He felt his thighs tense, not of discomfort, but by being overloaded with one thing after another. He’d already come and part of him was still basking in it, but somehow Brady’s touch was making him hard again. And fuck if that wasn’t super hot. He was dizzy with it; overwhelmed in the best way. “Yeah, it’s okay,” his words were somewhat strangled; raspy to his ears. And it was more than okay. “It’s good. Fuck. Brady.” More then good. One of his hands curled into the sheets. “Feels good,” he spoke again, feeling like he was babbling as he lifted his head up somewhat; knees shifting on the bed to situate himself better, sighing as he continued. His body was simultaneously relaxed and keyed up and he wasn’t sure how that happened, but he liked it. Words kept coming out and he didn’t care to stop them. “You’re gettin’ me hard again.”

All Brady needed to hear was that Max was enjoying himself to get right back to it. He leaned down to continue what he was doing, his tongue moving mostly experimentally since he wasn’t totally sure what worked and what didn’t. But Max was tensing and gripping the sheets and telling Brady exactly what he wanted to hear, so he figured he must be doing something right. When he told him he was making him hard again, Brady couldn’t hold back his moan. His hands squeezed where they were on Max’s ass and he pulled back. “Yeah?” The thought of making him come a second time was unbelievably exciting. One of Brady’s hands slid down to let his finger trace where his tongue had just been a moment ago. He didn’t press inside him, not yet. Just teasing. “Gonna make you come again,” he told him. His voice was level and quiet, so Max understood that Brady was going to make sure of it. He got the lube again, more than ready to fuck him already but of course needing Max to be also. “You gonna make me come, Max?” He poured the lube onto his fingers and pressed his free hand against Max’s lower back to steady him. Brady has clearly already helped relax him a bit, so he pressed into him with one finger, and not long after was able to add a second. “I can’t wait.” And he really fucking couldn’t. He was already imagining fucking him after just having rode Max till he came, and it was making Brady dizzy. It was probably a combination of everything — Max being comfortable, loose-limbed, and also high — that allowed him to stay relaxed, and it wasn’t long before he was letting Brady know he was good to go. Brady really didn’t want to rush this because he was sure he wasn’t going to be able to last long at all once he got going; but then, he was desperate at this point to be inside him.

Still, he tried to take his time putting on the condom and settling behind Max. His hands dragged slowly over the body in front of him, touching everywhere he could reach from his ass up toward his shoulders. Brady licked his lips and reached down to wrap a hand around the base of his cock. He guided himself inside him, pushing in slowly, biting down on his bottom lip as he did. “Holy fuck, Max.” Brady truly didn’t imagine super stoned sex being so overwhelming. It was always incredible, obviously, when they had just smoked a little, but this time, looking down at the way Max was positioned on the bed as Brady’s cock slipped inside him, combined with the feeling of it made his breath catch in his throat. He stared in awe like he’d never done this before. Instead of immediately setting a pace, Brady leaned over him a bit so he could reach around and touch Max. He could feel that he wasn’t kidding; he was getting hard again. And all because of Brady. Brady ducked his head down to press his lips to Max’s skin. Then he straightened up again, hands finding Max’s waist. Brady ever so slowly pulled out before pressing into him again. Trying to be careful not to let this end so soon. He needed it, though; needed Max. Brady succumbed with a groan, moving at a faster pace to start fucking into him steadily. “You feel fucking incredible,” Brady said, his voice not quite as steady. He pressed his lips together as he continued to rock his hips into him. And he didn’t know what compelled him, but something about the atmosphere gave him the urge to raise a hand to slap Max’s ass. Not hard, just...noticeable. “Driving me fuckin’ crazy tonight.”

If the actions weren't enough to begin to get him hard again, Brady's words alone might have done it. The tease of a finger pressing against him in place of his tongue had a small whimper escaping the back of his throat, opening his mouth to say more. "Yeah, wanna make you come." Really fucking bad. And the idea of coming with him, again was overpoweringly hot. Max focused on the way his hands felt guiding down his body, and around to his cock, and another groan floated through the air. He couldn't believe he was getting hard so soon, and that he was just as worked up as he was before. Being high caused him to relax, but he also somehow zeroed in on every single thing, releasing a harsh breath as Brady began to push a finger inside him; slowly beginning to get him ready. "Fuck, Brady." His hips jerked, before stilling, exhaling harshly as his boyfriend added another finger. Before long, he was impatient for it. "Can't wait to feel you," the words of agreement came just before he heard the crinkle of the wrapper, his stomach twisted in anticipation. The hands sliding over his body and around to his cock made his skin burn hot, and it was unreal how much he wanted him, even still. It was like he wanted him even worse now that he'd already come; fueled by his desire to continue to be close in any way and to make him feel just as good as he'd felt. His cock grew harder; Brady's hand on him further encouraging him. He was already in a daze when he shifted to began to press into him, filling his senses as a broken sigh left his lips. “God. Yes.” His hands twisted further into the blankets as his back pushed upwards, words hanging in the air as his boyfriend began to slide out only to push all the way back in. And he swore his vision went black for a second with how amazingly good this was; how overwhelmed he felt still even if he’d already gotten off once. Having Brady inside him always felt amazing, but now everything seemed to be heightened for him.

His knees dug into the bed as he held himself up to meet Brady’s thrusts; the slap that Brady delivered to his ass caused a loud moan to leave him; startled at the motion though it wasn’t unwelcome. It sent a shock of pleasure down his spine; going straight to his dick. Jesus. It wasn’t hard, but that combined with Brady fucking him was enough to make him go crazy. “Do that again," he murmured, breathless as he shifted his hips backwards, suddenly wanting to feel him deeper. The whole room felt hazy still and the smell of weed still floated around them and it felt like a dream. He moaned again as he felt him slide in deeper, and now he was definitely hard again. "Drivin' me crazy, too. Feels so fucking good."

Brady’s fingers dug into the skin of Max’s hips, almost feeling like he was holding onto him for dear life — trying to keep himself together. But it became damn near impossible for him to do that when Max told him to slap him again. Brady’s brain short circuited for just a second. Then he recognized what he had asked for, and Brady complied, with a little bit more force this time. He never wanted to hurt him, obviously, but now that he knew Max was clearly into that, he was less cautious. And he was also getting close again, way too quickly. He’d known it was going to happen, though. There was no use trying to hold back anymore and he didn’t particularly want to at this point. “Max.” His voice was strangled, and it was clear what he was trying to tell him without even saying the words. Brady leaned over him again, his body draped over his boyfriend’s, his hands pressing on top of Max’s as well. He picked up his pace slightly and his heart was pounding so wildly in his chest he was pretty sure he could hear it. “Fuck, I’m–” He didn’t actually manage to get it out before he froze, his hands curling tightly around Max’s in the sheets as he came. Brady pressed his forehead against him, his breathing heavy and irregular as he rode it out. All of his muscles were tense and then relaxed all at once. He could probably collapse and pass out, but he also had other things to attend to. He kissed Max’s back once more before getting up to slowly pull out. He was still feeling all loose and warm but he was determined to do what he’d set out to do. He nudged Max’s hips again to coax him to roll over again. Once Max was on his back, Brady wasted no time. He leaned down to take him into his mouth, as much as he could all at once, with his hand wrapping around the rest. His mind was racing. Brady was already looking forward to cleaning up and just lying there with him, but more than that, he wanted Max to come for a second time.

Max had no concept of time tonight. He had no idea how long they’d been at this; just that they both clearly couldn’t get enough of it. His breath fell out harshly as Brady slapped him again, this time harder and somehow so good, and it only further making him absolutely lose his mind. Brady's thrusts only increasing from there on out. His cock brushed against the sheets below him, and he hadn’t even touched himself and he was so keyed up. The hands covering his only made this ten times hotter; he could hear and feel Brady getting close. And suddenly he wanted to see Brady so badly; wanted to watch him as he came. But he couldn’t turn his head all the way; couldn’t think to as he was fucking into him in just the right spot. Max’s mouth dropped open as he felt Brady freeze behind him; hands tightening over his own. “Come on, want you to come, want you to,” Max managed to get out, voice raspy as the other finally let go. He could picture how he looked; had seen it so many times. And fuck it was still the hottest thing in the world.

A long sigh rolled from his lips as he slid back onto him slightly; mind racing as he felt Brady ride out his orgasm. God it was so much; too much. And now he was painfully hard again himself. Max rolled over as he was guided, gaze heated and immediately falling on him, and he knew what Brady was going to do before he did it. Still, a loud groan escaped him as his mouth sunk over him, and Max’s hand rose to tangle in his hair as his eyes stayed fixated on his face. "Shit, you're so hot." The way he sounded as he came and how he felt fucking him still burned fresh in his mind, and it didn't take long before Brady was getting him closer and closer again. "Feels... incredible." He could barely speak as Max's hips rolled up, sliding further into his mouth, body tensing before long. “Brady. I’m gonna...” He tried to speak, but it was obvious by the way his body froze and his head knocked back against the bed what was happening. His fingers tightened in his hair, tugging as he began to come, and it was somehow even more overpowering than it was before. His chest heaved as he inhaled sharply, eyes shutting tightly as his boyfriend made him come for a fucking *second *time that night.

Brady’s hands held tightly to Max’s hips when the blond finally came again. Brady looked up at him as he shifted and struggled to catch his breath, all too aware of the hand tightening in his hair. Fuck, Brady could watch him do this a hundred times in a row and not get sick of it. If only. When Max relaxed again, Brady pulled away from him and swallowed, licking his lips and then wiping his mouth on his hand. Then he finally got rid of the condom. He couldn’t even describe how he felt as he crawled back onto the bed and completely collapsed beside Max. It was like he was floating but sinking all at the same time; his bones were heavy, but everything else was all airy, like a dream. He wasn’t going to be too high for much longer and the orgasm had definitely helped speed the relaxing process along. Now he slung his arm around Max’s waist, settling in close to his side and pressing his face against the side of his chest, and there was absolutely fucking nothing else he’d rather be doing.

“We’ve outdone ourselves this time, Maxy,” he said quietly, and then couldn’t help but giggle. It was true, though. He was going to be thinking about this for a while. Really, he always made it a point to file away these memories for later — the times where he could just be with Max, do anything and everything without fear of screwing up. And it was what got him through the times like they had a little earlier today, being extra cautious what they did around other people. In these moments, other people didn’t matter. After a while, Brady scooted up the bed a bit to get closer to Max’s face. He pressed his lips to Max’s cheek. “Should I do some ASMR for you to help you relax? Just ignore the music.” Difficult, when it was Cage the Elephant and Brady wanted to vibe. This was more important. He trailed his hand slowly up and down Max’s side. Then he leaned in close to Max’s ear. “Welcome to post-coitus ASMR,” Brady whispered, his lips touching his ear with each word. Then he lifted the arm that was around Max’s waist to bring his hand up right beside his ear as well. Brady rubbed his fingers together gently, not quite snapping but making enough of a sound that he had to bite back another laugh. “We’ll be doing close up ear sounds today.” He emphasized it by gently flicking Max’s ear, and then he couldn’t help but to laugh again. “Sorry. Did that hurt?”

Relaxation settled deep into his body as they situated themselves on the bed, and his chest rose and fell heavily as he tried to regain his composure again, arm sliding around Brady’s shoulders as he fell against his side. Max felt completely at peace; he almost felt like he couldn’t move anymore. Everything felt slow motion, but he wasn’t complaining. “No kidding.” His fingers absentmindedly rubbed his arm before his boyfriend spoke and moved up and closer to his face. His arm fell against the bed as he rolled his head to meet his eyes, a tired grin crossing his face. “Oh man. For free? Didn’t even have to sign up for your OnlyFans.” His words were fond as his expression was amused, though a sigh left him as he shut his eyes. Just listening to Brady be a dumbass, and a laugh escaped him before he flicked his ear. At that, he opened his eyes, and it was his turn to roll them for once. Max’s hands rose up to cup either side of his face, bringing his face closer to his own. “You’re a nerd.” He said quietly, affectionate as he pressed a kiss to his jawline, then his cheek. One of his hands slid to his ear, tugging on it gently as he leaned back. “Know what hurts? You saying coitus instead of fucking.” His gaze dropped back down to his mouth before he pressed a kiss to his lips, lingering for a moment as affection warmed his chest. He leaned back only to speak again, tired but teasing. “Don’t give me any of that PG ASMR.” He huffed a small laugh. “Who do you think I am?”

Brady grinned. “My onlyfans is a secret. You think I want you to see me naked?” He emphasized his own irony by sidling in closer to Max, bare skin against bare skin. He shook his head slightly as Max’s hands came up to his face. Brady’s own hand poked Max in the cheek. “Don’t roll your eyes at me, you douche. I’m being nice here.” He recoiled a bit as Max tugged his ear, but only because it kind of tickled. Not that he’d let him know that so he could forever use it against him. Brady hummed when Max kissed him, and then shook his head when they broke apart. “Uh, I always keep it PG,” he deadpanned. “Not my fault you just wanna be nasty all the time. Maybe you should start an onlyfans for your filthy ASMR.” He settled back down again, his head resting against the blond’s shoulder. Brady’s arm returned to where it’d been before, across Max’s waist. Fleetwood Mac was playing faintly now. Brady closed his eyes, feeling beautifully content even as his high and the afterglow started to slowly fade. He didn’t think he would ever get tired of this. And he didn’t want to. He didn’t like to think of Max as a secret he had to keep or anything like that; rather, it was incredible to just have something that was just between them. No one else had any idea what they experienced together — well, except for like, Max’s twin and their roommate. But even then. Brady took comfort in knowing it was just them for right now, because he knew, realistically, that it wouldn’t always be. He didn’t need to think about that right now, though. “Well, I’ll save the ASMR for someone who appreciates it,” he muttered softly after a long time, eyes closed as he stayed still against his boyfriend. “For now I’ll just go fuck myself, I guess.” And knew Max could feel him smiling against his skin.

#CANON #calm before the storm #current verse #015

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braxarchives · 3 years

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Love and Basketball ― CANON. (current verse)

It’s Valentine’s Day 2020, and tension between both Brady and Max has yet again reached the boiling point. The only difference is that now, they’re finally ready to deal with the aftermath. NSFW.

The last time Brady had actually celebrated Valentine’s Day, he was 17 and did the absolute most for his girlfriend at the time. She’d been with him for nearly two years at that point and he did the whole thing: surprising her with flowers, taking her out somewhere ridiculously expensive, a new necklace that cost way too much money for a high school relationship — all the shit one would expect from a kid trying to impress his girl. Even if she ended up dumping his ass before the following Valentine’s Day, Brady prided himself on having been romantic as fuck when he wanted to be. There didn’t happen to be another Valentine to do all that with since then, and really, it was a fuckin’ shame. In truth, though, Brady didn’t actually care. He didn’t want to be that obnoxious, cynical asshole saying the holiday was just an excuse to get people to spend a bunch of money and feel bad about themselves if they didn’t do or get as much as somebody else. But that was kinda the point. In any case, it wasn’t exactly surprising that he still didn’t have any plans for this particular February fourteenth, either. Obviously, his love life was kind of weird at the moment, nonexistent in some ways yet ever present in others. He hadn’t thought about it much yet, though, and regardless of all that, he was still taking the time to hang out with Max. Who better to spend a dateless Valentine’s Day with than your best friend, right? Even if... Fucking whatever. Brady watched the basketball sink directly into the net and smirked as he went to pick it back up again. He dribbled the ball back in Max’s general direction and then bounced it to him. “Think we could get a real game going here at some point?” He was sure they had enough friends for it, but maybe not enough who’d be willing to participate in sports. Brady picked up his water bottle and turned back to watch Max. “I’d just love to fucking annihilate everybody, y’know?” Though he was cool with just fucking around for now.

Max held his hands up to catch the throw, holding it as Brady picked up his water bottle. He’d been on this particular court with Brady so many times, doing this exact thing. It may not have been a real game, but Max always liked just bullshitting with him, no matter what day it was. It wasn’t lost on him that it was Valentine’s Day, and usually that wasn’t supposed to be spent with your best friend on a basketball court. Max, normally, would have plans with someone. Whether it just be hanging out or going to some party. This time, he’d just decided to... not do that. If asked, he’d just say he didn’t feel like doing anything this year. But the truth was he was already with who he wanted to be spending time with, anyway. “Or someone could kick your ass.” Max turned to the hoop, extending his hands upwards and gently throwing the ball towards it. Instead of making it in, it bounced off the rim, coming back his way. He quickly lunged to the side in order to catch it. “You saying our games aren’t professional enough for you?” He joked as he bounced the ball on the pavement once before passing it back to Brady. “We could. Send it in the group text. Dunno who’s free today, but I’m sure someone would want the opportunity to beat you. It can’t just be all me all the time, anyway.” Yeah right. Like Max cared anything about winning. He was still going to give him a hard time about it thought.

Brady took a sip of water and shook his head. “Not likely.” Not that he was the greatest player there ever was, but out of their friends, maybe. It was serious business for him as a kid, absolutely what he’d spent the most time on before getting hurt. So he’d like to think he could kick their friends’ asses. He put his water back down and reached out to catch the ball. “I mean, we can keep score if you want. ‘Cause you’re already losing,” he pointed out, gesturing toward the hoop Max had just missed. “Not today. I just meant like, in general.” He hoped at least some of them had plans for the day, anyway. Brady dribbled a few times and then took a shot, much closer this time, just to be sure it would go in so he could prove his point that he’d obviously win. He smirked again and passed it back to Max. “You talk a big game like I didn’t smoke you out here the first time we met.” It felt like forever ago when it had really only been a few years. So much had changed since then, but of course the memory was clear in his mind.

“If we’re keeping score, then we should start over. Look at how close you are to the hoop --- unfair.” Max liked goofing around on the court and making up the rules as he went, and he didn't really tried to hide it most times, even if he was messing with him now. He wasn’t really concerned about who won or not, and he most definitely hadn’t been keeping score. But it was only natural to pretend to be competitive with him, ‘cause it always seemed to bring out Brady’s excitement. He liked the game, and Max could tell that much when he first saw him. He had been alone, and Max had heard him before he saw him. The sound of the ball bouncing against the pavement had grabbed his attention, before he zeroed in on him and pushed his way through the fence to essentially interrupt him. Maybe it was because the way Brady's eyes focused on the ball and nothing else made him seem lonely somehow. Or maybe it was Max’s own feelings being projected onto the gangly-looking guy. He didn’t know for certain. But it somehow had made perfect since for him to go over to him and join the game. And they hadn’t really stopped since. It had been one of the best games he’s ever played, and the mention of it caused the warm feeling of nostalgia to settle into his bones, and finally that got a smile out of him. “Who says I didn’t let you win?” He said, but they both know he didn’t. Max hadn’t stopped talking long enough at the time to really focus on what they were doing. ”Maybe I knew you’d stop talking to me if I won. 'M smart that way.” He shrugged a shoulder, although he was now grinning to himself as he threw the ball once more, carefully this time. Max made the shot, honestly a little surprised. “Could just as easily be as good as this as you are, you know." But maybe he wasn't and he was okay with that. He'd still play on this court with him anytime, honestly.

“I know for a fact you didn’t let me win,” Brady said, “because I saw how you played.” He could see the whole thing in his head, the way Max seemed to talk endlessly about anything and everything to someone he didn’t even know. Now, knowing who Max was, it made a hell of a lot of sense to Brady. He only had fond memories of that day because regardless of how Max came and interrupted Brady’s brooding, he ended up with his best friend. The person he cared most about in this whole damn world. Fuck, man. He hadn’t wanted to do this now, all out in the open and on today of all days, but when the thought came to him for the millionth time since getting home from Europe, Brady couldn’t help the feeling that settled in the pit of his stomach. Like there was unfinished business between them — and there was, and Brady actually wanted to resolve it rather than ignore it until it went away or inevitably boiled over. He felt like he was past that now. Or, he wanted to be, at least. So if he could swallow his pride and speak up before he left, maybe he could do the same now. Fresh start or some shit. Whatever. “Sorry I did, by the way. Stop talking to you. When I was away.” He knew what Max meant, that he was just jokingly talking about the first time they met. But it reminded him, and it was a good jumping off point. He cradled the ball in his hands and kept an eye on the net, but didn’t make a move to shoot it just yet. “I... It’s not like I wasn’t... thinking about you.” It hung in the air for a moment before Brady did throw the ball. He missed, and it bounced off the rim and to the ground. He didn’t immediately go to catch it, though, instead turning to face Max. “‘Cause I know I left on a weird note.”

“Could have just been a really good strategy.” Max joked about it, but let it go, because he hadn’t been trying to fool anybody. He’d gravitated to Brady right away; had wanted to get to know him. So he talked to him, despite the initial weird looks he got. He’d been interested by him, and something told him, even if he’d been quiet at first --- that they could be friends. Now, years later, Max knew he'd been right. He’d just been more right than he’d ever expected. “Hey, it’s okay,” Max uttered out automatically. His first instinct was to ease his worries. But honestly, maybe it wasn’t okay. Max had beat himself up about not reaching out to him, either. It wasn’t right to just not talk to his best friend because things were strange between them. Max hadn’t known what to say to him, but he still managed to feel guilty. “I’m sorry, too. I should have texted more, or---” Said something, or something. What, Max wasn’t sure. His eyes followed the ball as it rolled on the ground, but he made no room to get it either, instead looking back at Brady. He didn’t look away from him as his heart stirred in his chest.

He didn’t really expect Brady to allude to what was said between them before he left, because it had been a few months now. Max wasn’t sure if they were on the same page anymore, and he didn’t want to get himself back in the weird spot of trying to guess if they were or not. Still, it wasn’t as though his feelings for Brady ever went away. It didn’t work like that. Him being gone just made it all worse, because now he was even more painfully aware of how much he liked him beyond the scope of just being friends. It made his stomach flip and his chest ache and his palms feel clammy --- and it was honestly ridiculous that Brady could make him feel like that just by mentioning a conversation they had literally forever ago and saying he thought about him. “You didn’t mean to. I know it all happened... kinda fast.” Max took a few steps forward in order to stretch down, taking the ball back for himself before facing Brady again. “But we’re good. I’m not upset you left.” Max didn’t know what else to say, and he was grateful for the basketball keeping his hands preoccupied. “I’m just glad you’re back now, you know?”

Honestly, Brady didn’t know why they didn’t talk that much. It was a little odd when he first left and then it just sort of tapered off, and it eventually got to a point where Brady didn’t even know what to say. Clearly Max didn’t either and he couldn’t blame him. Shit happened. He didn’t hold it against him then and most certainly wouldn’t now. Max was right, though. Everything had happened fast, from Brady talking to him to getting the opportunity to go work seemingly all at once. He wasn’t sure how, or if, things would be different if he hadn’t gone. But then, maybe he had the opportunity to see for himself right now. “Yeah.” He took a few steps closer to Max, just to close some distance so he could lower his voice. “I told you a lotta stuff,” he recalled, as if Max didn’t know. “And... I mean, you know me, man. I don’t talk about that shit. But it was—” He stopped, trying to figure out what he wanted to say. His eyes focused on the basketball for a few moments before he made himself look at Max again. “I said I wanted to wait. So it would be right, or whatever.” He hoped Max remembered what he’d said about kissing him after they talked those few months ago because he didn’t want to say it. “I don’t really know what I’m waiting for now.” Truthfully, he didn’t. For Max to tell him to screw off, he deserved better than what Brady could give him? For someone else to come along and make him feel even half this fucking soft? Not likely.

Brady approached him and placed his hands on the ball, right by Max’s. “I thought about you all the time,” he said quietly, like an admission. “And I just fucking know that’s not gonna go away, and I don’t really want it to either. So I think... y’know, after all this that maybe this is like, for real.” It damn near gave him goosebumps just to say it, and Brady felt lightyears beyond his comfort zone talking about this anywhere other than the privacy of their apartment. But he also couldn’t stop it from coming out so he knew a bigger part of him just needed Max to know. ”But,” he said quickly, finally taking the ball from him, though he remained close and kept his voice low, “I told you I wouldn’t be able to tell anyone and I still don’t think I can.” His gaze was serious and he really wanted Max to understand how shitty it made him feel. Brady swallowed the lump in his throat and continued. “But god, I wanna stop fucking around here, dude. I wanna try this.”

Brady was really doing this; bringing up what they’d been ghosting over for weeks now. It caught him by surprise, but in the best way. Max’s gaze never left Brady as he neared closer, putting his hands on the ball with his own. He didn’t move from his spot, only watching as his best friend started speaking to him so earnestly. “Brady...” He said quietly, automatically trying to respond to him although his thoughts were racing. He knew how hard it was for him to talk about this stuff. He knew pretty early on in their friendship that it was difficult for him to talk about certain things. So the fact that he kept trying to reach out to him wasn’t something that was lost on Max. His hands were close to his, and if Max moved his pinky just a bit to the side, he’d be able to brush one of his fingers. He wanted to, but then Brady was taking the ball away from him completely. It made him feel exposed to suddenly not have anything to do with his hands. And despite what he wanted to do, he couldn’t exactly reach out to Brady. Despite what he was telling him, and the implication. They were still in public. “I know that. And I told you that I don’t want you to feel like you have to.” Max’s words were equally as quiet, the previous joking atmosphere now gone. Did he want to be a secret forever? Of course not. He didn’t like the idea of it; of having to hide. It was something that didn’t exactly set well with him.

But he cared about Brady more than he cared about letting that get the best of him right now. Because when it came down to it, Max understood his reasoning. He knew why he was so hesitant for people to know, and he’d be an asshole if he wasn’t understanding of that. More than anything, this was Brady. And he didn’t want him to do anything he didn’t feel comfortable with, either. “I know you can’t.” Max finally said, tone soft yet decisive. “I wouldn’t want you to -- unless you were ready.” And he really fucking meant that. “All I want is for you to be honest with me. And if it doesn’t --- if it’s too much. I’d wanna know.“ That’s all he wanted from the start, was them to be honest to each other about what was going on. “But Brady.” Hope was back full force, and excitement pooled in the pit of his stomach. They’d talked about this before, sure, but it wasn’t like this. This felt more real, somehow. “I didn’t exactly stop thinking about you either. And if it hasn’t stopped yet, don’t think it’s going to anytime soon.” He’d known that for what felt like actual months now. Maybe even longer than that if Max were being perfectly honest with himself. “So if you need me to even say it. I want to try this too.” A small half-smile finally found his face, though his words were still careful. As though he were afraid he’d scare him off. But he lowered his voice even quieter still, playful yet mindful of where they were even if there was no one to be seen. “Dunno if you really noticed, but I might be just a little bit into you.”

Brady had had a lot of time to think about things when he was in Europe. Many times, he ended up lingering on the conversation they had before Brady left. He had said that they could do what they’d been doing before but without all the excuses, and that was essentially what Brady was suggesting now. They had already crossed the ‘no strings attached’ line far too many times (despite Brady’s false insistence that they hadn’t), so the only thing that would really change now was the way he reacted to it. He wanted to kiss him because he fucking could. To lay in his bed because he just goddamn wanted to. And Max seemed to be all for those implications. Brady’s heart was pounding in his chest now. He had put it out there and made it really real, then Max set it in stone, and now... that was that. Here they were, suddenly something that Brady had sworn up and down for several months they weren’t and could never be. And maybe this wouldn’t end up working after all, but Brady had spent too much time lying to himself and Max not to at least try.

“Okay.” Brady nodded, a hint of a smile pulling at his lips too. “Cool.” Trying was all they could do at this point. “We can... talk about it. Later.” He knew they would have to work out what exactly this all meant for both of them when they were alone. But for now, Brady was going to take a deep breath. Although he felt kind of jittery now, it was also comforting to know he no longer had to worry about tiptoeing around this whole situation. “I noticed. You don’t do a good job of hiding it,” he teased. He faced away from Max just so he could shoot the ball. He watched it sink into the net, caught up to it to scoop it up, then whirled around to face Max again. He wasn’t sure what was making him feel so brave at the moment, wanting to tell him things he didn’t think he’d want to say. Likely the fact that Max had never once given him a reason to be afraid to speak up, and months away from him made Brady appreciate that he had the ability to do so at all now. “You’re only gonna hear me say this once,” Brady promised, poking Max in the chest so he knew he meant business, “but I’m glad you couldn’t keep your fuckin’ mouth shut back then. I’m happy we met, y’know?” He didn’t know where the fuck he’d be otherwise, truthfully. He pushed away the urge to pull Max into him or get any fucking sappier than he already had, instead sighing and heading back toward where he’d last set his water down, the ball still tucked under his arm. “You hungry?” Brady asked from across the court now. “We could go get food or whatever.”

They would definitely need to actually talk about this later. Max knew that this conversation wasn’t necessarily over, but for once that was a good thing. He hadn’t intended to bring the whole topic up again; Brady being gone had put things in perspective for him. Max had decided that whenever Brady got back, he didn’t want things to be weird between them. No matter what happened. But here he was, being as open as Brady really ever had been. And he just felt happy. Excited. Brady’s own grin made his nearly grow in return and he had the strongest urge to step closer to him. Fucking Brady for doing this on the basketball court of all places. Out in the open when he couldn’t really do much of anything but stare at him in a weird mixture of joy and disbelief. The sentiment was beyond sweet, though, and it wasn’t lost on him at all. His stomach felt all jittery but in the best way, and that feeling only got worse when he had to go and say stuff too. “Just this once?” His words took on a teasing quality as he poked Brady’s shoulder back in turn. “I’m going to have to take that as a challenge.” But his smile turned warm and he genuinely couldn’t believe the turn of events. It was surreal; something he’d wanted to hear from him for God knows how long now. It was gonna take a moment for it to actually sink in. “For the record. I’m glad you didn’t punch me in the face like you probably wanted to.” It was a joke, but he was also kind of serious. He was relieved then that Brady didn’t end up turning him away. Now he was just fucking grateful. The moment trailed off as Brady shot his hoop, and eventually Max nodded slowly, amusement creeping in. “I could eat.” He replied, and definitely noticed how similar this was to that night nearly four years ago now. “Let me guess. You wanting Taco Bell again?”

When they made it back to the apartment later, Brady couldn’t help but recognize the very real fact that although it hadn’t been planned or even any different than any other time they’d ever hung out, they had in fact just gone out for a meal on Valentines Day. But he also recognized that it was funny more than it was weird or scary or whatever else he thought he might feel. Maybe it was because they hadn’t actually talked so nothing had really changed yet, or maybe it just meant this would be easier than he thought. Whatever the case, Brady was feeling pretty good as they headed inside. They were greeted by the dogs as usual, and Brady hesitated only a moment before calling out their roommate’s name. He didn’t get a response, but he went to double check anyway, ‘cause it would be fucked if all this came out into the light and she had been there after all. Her keys were gone and her room empty, though, so Brady was pretty sure they had the all clear.

He came back into the living room to join Max with a simple shrug of his shoulders to show he hadn’t found anything to suggest they weren’t alone. And with that in mind... his heart started beating fast again. He still could not believe he had done all that in the middle of the freaking basketball court. He was getting real fuckin’ tired of Max dragging out parts of him he never even knew could exist. But of course he wasn’t actually tired of it. He was a little hesitant, not sure what he should do or say first, if anything. Brady swallowed and approached him until they were face to face right in the middle of their living room. “So,” he started, avoiding eye contact for just a moment before looking up at him. “Sup?” He knew it was lame as hell, but it was hard for him to know what to say at first. He did, however, know what had to be said ultimately. The bravery was still there, especially now that they were in private. So he tried again. “So no excuses.” That was a better place to start: a promise. “I don’t wanna do that shit anymore.” He would do things because he wanted to, and wouldn’t try to hide behind just being fuck buddies anymore. It hadn’t been that way for a long ass time and they both knew it. It was about time for Brady to own up to it. He brought a hand up to rub the back of his neck. “Is it cool if I kiss you now?” Because if now weren’t the right time to do it, he didn’t know when the fuck would be.

As Brady went looking for Arlo, he stared after him a moment before stretching down to pet the dogs as they’d come running up. He made his way to the living room, both of them following behind as he came face to face with Brady. “Nothin’.” He nodded to him, trying to mask his amusement and now insane heart rate as he tried to act fucking normal once. He was so close to him now. “‘Sup with you?” Max couldn’t believe how easy the rest of the night had gone. He honestly was still caught off guard by how everything turned out, and by the time they got back to the apartment, Max hadn’t been sure what to expect. Everything felt so surreal steal. They’d barely talked on the court, but Max understood what he was trying to tell him. He just wasn’t sure where to go from there, or if now he was suddenly allowed to kiss him or touch him or do any of the other not so friendly urges he’s suppressed around him for quite some time now. But Brady was once again repeating what he did on the court, followed by familiar words he’s really only heard his own voice say. And as much as he wanted to just go for it, he didn’t want to just rush into this like he was doing before Brady left for Europe. As much as Brady had wanted to make sure it was right, he needed to do the same.

“I don’t know.” He drawled out as his gaze dropped to his lips. Max knew damn good and well he wanted to kiss him. But he needed to prove a point. He took a few slow steps towards him. “I need to know one thing first.” Max reached out to gently take Brady’s free arm in his palm, drawing him closer. His lips threatened to quirk into a smile, but he stopped himself. “Did you drink any Four Lokos today?” Or any other stupid drink they’ve ever drunk instead of just acknowledging shit for real. “Because if I let you kiss me. I don’t want to make any excuses with you either. I wanna do this right, too.” His eyes searched Brady’s face, words now genuine instead of teasing. “I want it to be because it’s me. And because you’re sure.” He didn’t need Brady to be sure about when he could tell anyone, or if he ever could. He just wanted him to be sure Max was the one he wanted to try this with. Max exhaled gently as he slid his hand down Brady’s arm to his hand, hoping he wouldn’t break away from him now. “Because I’m not gonna pretend like kissing you is just some accident anymore. If that’s what you want.”

Brady rolled his eyes. He wasn’t going to pretend Max’s bullshit wasn’t still ridiculous just because they were trying something new or whatever the fuck. “Oh, fuck off.” He knew he was just sort of breaking the tension, though, especially when he got a little more serious, and Brady looked at him and listened. It had always been hard for him to talk about things like this. Easier with Max, sure, but with things he struggled for a long time to accept about himself, it was taking him a little longer to get used to these types of conversations. Letting his guard down was something he had rarely done his entire life. So while Max clearly made him feel comfortable enough to do that and he was totally sure (because otherwise he would be getting defensive already), he didn’t totally know how to say it. But he didn’t think he had to. He liked to believe that at this point Max knew him well enough to know if Brady wanted to back out; he hadn’t exactly been quiet about that in the past. So instead of insisting that it was okay and what he wanted, Brady glanced down at their hands and then back up at his face, leaning in to kiss him once and for all. He thought it might feel brand new or something, like the first time kissing him all over again, and truthfully there was something new to it, maybe just an added layer of anticipation from not having done it in so long. But at the heart of it, it was something Brady was used to, and that was probably better for him than anything else. It was what he needed.

He pulled his hand away from Max’s so both could sit at his waist. And for once, he didn’t instantly drag Max closer and press their hips together. Not that he didn’t want to, because he absolutely fucking did, but it didn’t have to only be about that anymore, which was kinda the whole point. No more hiding or whatever. Max did still drive him fucking insane in the best way, though. That would never go away no matter how open and honest they got. So Brady’s lips were a little bit desperate against his, if only because it had been so long. But it was all them. No alcohol or end goal in mind. Just because they wanted to. When Brady forced himself to come up for air, he let out a shuddering breath he had probably been holding without meaning to. He didn’t fully pull away yet, lips brushing against the corner of Max’s mouth and his hands still stayed firmly on his hips. “Fuck,” he whispered. His stomach was doing fucking flips and it hit him all at once how much he had missed this for real, missed him. And he told him that much. “I really fucking missed you.” If he had stayed behind, or if Max had been there with him or whatever, maybe this wouldn’t have ended up happening. Brady didn’t know. Right now, it almost felt like he had needed to go away to realize he needed to cut the shit. He stayed close and dragged one hand up just slightly, until it was barely under the fabric of his shirt, in an attempt for his fingertips to make contact with his skin in some way. He got serious again, shaking his head. “Not an accident.”

When Brady finally closed the distance to press their lips together, Max knew he had his answer. It was nothing they hadn’t done a million times before, but it was so much different now. Goosebumps prickled Max’s skin as their lips moved against each other’s, and he felt his chest physically ache as he realized just how much he’d craved this. One hand cupped the side of Brady’s jaw while the other gripped his shirt loosely, keeping him close as they kissed. It felt urgent, but not rushed or a means to the end like the other times. This was for real now, and when they finally broke apart Max was literally breathless. “I missed you too,” Max whispered after a moment as his thumb brushed along his jawline. His palm slid to the back of his neck fingers toying with the hair there as he somehow pressed in closer. The hand grazing his skin caused his stomach to clench on its own. God. He really, really missed him too. “A whole fucking lot.” And maybe Max was known for talking way too much, but he didn’t have a lot to say for once. He just wanted to feel it. “Definitely not an accident,” he repeated, before his gaze dropped back to Brady’s lips for another kiss, just as desperately as before. They were finally alone, and Max was going to make the most of it.

Max’s hands all over him and the way he pulled him even closer made Brady damn near melt, and he didn’t think he’d ever fully accept what Max reduced him to. Fuckin’ unbelievable. He might’ve had another comment to add, but it died on his lips as Max kissed him again. Brady’s hand slipped back out from under his shirt so he could wrap both around Max’s lower back. They were already standing chest to chest but Brady still tried to bring him closer. He tried to pretend like he wasn’t equally as desperate as he broke apart again, looking at Max with the smirk he was all too used to giving him. “Jeez, Evans. What are you tryin’ to do? Didn’t even buy me dinner.” As if. Imagine if he cared. Max could try whatever the fuck he wanted at this point as far as Brady was concerned. And Brady took the liberty to do the same. He kissed Max on the cheek and lingered for a moment before moving to his jaw and then down to his neck. “Your room free?” he asked quietly. Teasing, and also completely flipping on what he had just said. But fuck it. It occurred to him to pause, though, and he did so to lift his head and look at Max again. “Or... wait, did you want to talk about stuff?” He was dead serious, because he really did want to do this right and make it clear to Max he wasn’t going to try to pull the same shit again. He wasn’t trying to get into his pants and forget all about this the next day. “I’m... I don’t really... I dunno,” he muttered, smiling slightly again.

Brady's familiar smirk only made his heart leaped in his chest, and it was still so unreal to him that he was here in front of him, wrapping his arms around him and kissing him without them pretending it didn't mean anything. He felt light, yet having him so close made him want him even closer. "I'll make up for it. Get you coffee in the morning." He managed to tease as he settled his hands on Brady's waist, lips twisted into a smile he couldn't quite get rid of as Brady kissed down his face and neck. The warmth of him quickly distracted him. He leaned his head to the side slightly as Brady kissed his neck, until he stopped. And Max was surprised and warmed by it all at once. His chest stirred with affection for him, and Max realized that as much as they were used to touching each other, Brady wasn't used to other aspects. But he was trying, and Max knew that. His hands slid back up his chest to cup his face in his hands, shaking his head, smiling back at him. "Hey. I know. It's okay," his words were spoken quietly. "We can talk later. Neither of us are goin' anywhere." Brady was being sweet, trying to make sure they were on the same page. "I want to talk. But I just..." For once, Max didn't have the words to say. He just wanted to fucking kiss him again. So he did. He leaned in to brush his lips along his; briefly and barely there - before he was letting go and taking a step away from him. His breath already kind of caught in his throat as he looked at him. He jerked his head a little towards his room before speaking again. "My room is free." He reached out for his hand, words playful although he just missed him and wanted to be close to him. "And you haven't really gotten to see much of it lately." Max began to take a few steps backwards, hoping he'd come along. "May as well get used to it again."

It was weird to think that this — Max holding his face, being nothing short of affectionate toward him to ease his anxiety about the whole thing — might have made Brady freak out and leave just a few months ago. It felt good knowing he didn’t have to do that anymore. There was no reason to hide how it did make him feel better, how his shoulders slumped and the smile remained with Max’s reassurance that he knew. He could tell Brady wanted to do this right. It might take him a while to figure it out and get there, but really, they would be doing all that figuring shit out together. So it was nice that Max was willing to sort that out later, instead backing up and holding out his hand for Brady to come with him. Because as much as Brady was ready for things to change, he hoped some certain things never would. And frankly, it had been too goddamn long. He followed Max toward his room, an action not at all unfamiliar to either of them but still making excitement pool in the pit of Brady’s stomach, similar to how the kiss hadn’t felt particularly new but definitely more. He carefully shut the door behind them and then turned to face Max. It was really the first time he’d been in his room in a while, not just for this purpose, but in general. It had still felt a little too weird to just hang out in there when Brady first got back. So to be back here for this reason specifically... It honestly just felt right in the context of the two of them.

Brady approached him slowly this time, like he was being careful. There was only one place for this to go. And Brady had this strange urge to make it... special? Which was kind of a weird feeling, and one that he wasn’t sure was entirely out of place or not. He supposed he’d find out. He reached out for Max’s hand like Max had just done to him earlier. Brady looked down at their hands together for about a fraction of a second before back up at Max’s face, and he used the hand holding Max’s to pull him in and kiss him again. It wasn’t exactly gentle, and soon both hands were back on Max’s hips like before. God, he could absolutely get used to making this the norm again, even more so than before. Brady didn’t want to break apart, but he did want to speak, so he pulled away just enough to be able to get the words out. “I wanna ask you somethin’.” This time, both hands inched up under the fabric of Max’s shirt to graze his skin, and Brady stayed close enough that their lips still touched as he continued to speak. “You still think about it every time you look at me?” For perhaps the first time in their entire relationship, especially since this whole thing started, he wasn’t even partially afraid of the repercussions of teasing him about something that had happened early on. Because now, it was just a part of what brought them to this exact moment. “‘Cause if so, I can get some Old Town Road goin’.”

For the first time in what felt like forever, it was just them again - about to probably do what they'd done so many times before. But God, it was different. Something about the way Brady was looking at him, or the way Max was looking at Brady was so much more open. Max knew he missed him while he was gone. But it was only now hitting him how much he’d missed things like this. Not necessarily the sex, although he did miss that too. Just being close to him with Brady’s hands inching up his shirt had his stomach flipping with excitement. He didn’t think much of Brady beginning to talk, distracted by his lips brushing against his own. But then it sunk in, and Max smiled against his mouth. “Fuck you,” he mumbled before pulling back some. A sound pulled from the back of Max's throat; a small hint of a laugh. "So what if I do? You really going to complain about it?” Max’s hands slid down Brady’s sides, itching to touch him too. “Or I could just sing it for you again.” He tugged Brady by the shirt, walking him over to his bed, but his gaze was fixated on him. He stopped at the foot of the bed to pull Brady close to him. His hands reached for the hem of Brady’s shirt, and pushed the fabric upwards, set on taking it off of him. His lips still quirked up into a teasing smile. ”Or maybe we should do somethin’ new this time. Billie Eilish wouldn’t be a mood killer would it?”

“Pass.” As funny and endearing (though he’d never say that out loud) as it was to look back on, Brady was pretty sure he could do without another sing along this time around. Although he didn’t do much to hide the smile on his face. He didn’t think twice about the hands tugging at his shirt and he let Max pull it over his head. It made him realize, not for the first time today, that he was feeling pretty freaking vulnerable. It was weird, since it wasn’t like he cared about his clothes being off around Max. That wasn’t the root of the feeling. But he tried to remind himself that it was okay to feel that now. Letting himself be open within these walls where only Max could see wasn’t going to hurt anyone. So Brady swallowed and busied himself with placing his hands on Max’s waist and pushing him just slightly, enough that Max sat down on his bed. “Doesn’t really do it for me,” Brady muttered, slowly leaning over him. He paused before he pushed Max all the way back so his shirt could join Brady’s on the floor. Then Brady crawled on top of him, his hands pressed into the mattress to hold himself up as he bent his head down to bring their lips together again.

Brady adjusted his position without breaking the kiss, moving until he could comfortably press against him without their limbs getting all tangled or whatever. It was kind of second nature, even when it had been months since the last time. Brady had fuckin’ goosebumps thinking about feeling all these things all over again, with nobody pissed off or sad or pretending it didn’t mean anything because it was a holiday or some shit. Brady supported his weight with one hand against the mattress so the other could slide over Max’s bare chest and over his stomach. His mind was also kind of racing, and the more he thought about it... His hand stilled and he broke the kiss so he could sit up slightly. “Hang on.” He reached for the pocket of Max’s shorts to retrieve his phone. “You change your password?” But he had his answer before he even finished asking, as Max’s phone unlocked with the code Brady already knew, and he smirked. He connected to the Bluetooth speaker in Max’s room and went to Brady’s own Spotify account to scroll through his playlists. He didn’t say which one he settled on out loud, but he was satisfied when Champagne Supernova started to play, so he shrugged and leaned over to lightly toss Max’s phone onto his bedside table. “Not Billie but, y’know. Mood music.” Better to disrupt the rhythm now before they really got going.

And he figured they should now, so with their newly implemented backing track, Brady bent down to kiss him briefly. He looked at Max’s face once they broke apart and slowly rolled his hips down against his. Brady was desperate to just feel him again, every part of him. He sighed, the sight of Max below him as he moved against him familiar, and grounding, and just about his favorite fucking thing. ”I still think about it all the time,” Brady told him quietly, “for the record.” He supported himself with one hand on the mattress and the other came to rest on the side of Max’s neck, their faces close but not quite close enough for their lips to touch again. “Been thinking about all of it for months.” He could feel himself starting to get hard both at the contact and the very honest admission of how much he had thought about this. And knowing Max was too, knowing he was the one doing that to him, it was never going to get old. Brady kept more specific comments about what exactly he had been wanting to himself, but the way he let his thumb brush over Max’s bottom lip and his gaze fixated on his mouth probably told him exactly where Brady’s mind was at the moment.

Max followed his movements; hands smoothing over Brady’s now bare chest before lifting his arms to help take off his own. His skin was on fire with every touch; every time their lips would brush against each other’s. Max just wanted him so badly he couldn’t concentrate on much else. The need to be close to him was overwhelming at best, and while he’d felt similar things with him before, it wasn’t like this. Now that they were honest; now that they knew this was more - Max wasn’t bothering to hold himself back. He grazed his hands down Brady’s back as he moved to press down on top of him. Max’s eyes lifted to roam over his face. And God. His breath caught in his throat. Seeing Brady just like this always did something to him. He couldn’t get enough of him before. Now that he had him for real, Max wasn’t sure if he ever would. Brady casually taking his phone to put on music was nothing he hadn’t done before. In fact, it was stupidly familiar to Max, but maybe that’s why it made him feel as warm as it did. He couldn’t seem to stop his stomach from somersaulting every five freaking seconds. Like he’d never touched him or kissed him before. But everything was serving as a reminder that not only was this Brady, his best friend. This was also the Brady he’d been shamelessly into for God knows how long now. The song began to play, notes carrying softly through the room as Brady urged him back on the bed. “Not exactly the same thing," he teased lightly as his hands slid down Brady's sides to rest at his hips. "But just as good,” he finished, tone coming out softer than he’d meant for it to before their lips came together again. His breath hitched as Brady's hips came to press against his, and his grip on his hips tightened only to pull him against him tighter. Closer. He could feel him getting hard already, and Max was in the exact same position.

Max brushed his lips along Brady’s thumb, kissing the pad of it as he let his own gaze linger on Brady's face. It didn't take a genius to figure out exactly what he'd been thinking about. Mostly because Max had been thinking about it, too. He hadn’t stopped. “Yeah?” He murmured, lips continuing to brush against his thumb as he spoke. “Anything specific?” Max rolled their hips together once more, teasing but wanting to hear him say it anyway. He missed his voice when he was like this; the way he’d look at him. Not for the first time was Max painfully aware of how much he missed him. And despite the affection that filled his chest – maybe even because of it -- he couldn’t resist catching the thumb between his teeth gently. The motion was playful at best, until his tongue briefly brushed the pad of it. It was only a moment before he released it completely. “Or am I gonna have to use my imagination?”

Brady would like to say he fought the urge to roll his eyes at Max... being Max, biting and licking his thumb, but that would be a lie. He went with it, freely doing so to let Max know he thought he was an ass — but then he also told him anyway. “You’re such an ass.” He pulled his hand away from Max’s face and angled his body so that he could reach between them instead. It was like he was picking up where he left off before putting on the music, fingers grazing over Max’s stomach and this time not stopping until he reached the front of his shorts. “Shut up.” Brady loosely wrapped his hand around him through the fabric. Of course, he had limited access that way, but it felt good to be touching him regardless. Plus, he didn’t want to start something he couldn’t fully deliver on, because he had a different plan in mind at the moment. He brought his lips close to Max’s ear before speaking. “I want you to show me what that mouth do.” If Max was going to be an idiot, then he could count on Brady being right there with him. He fully removed his hand and sat up a bit so he could see his face. Brady smirked. Maybe they should both being such assholes right now, but he wasn’t sure if that was entirely possible for them to do willingly. Still, he reigned it in and made himself get serious. Now his hand was slowly traveling back up Max’s torso. Brady’s gaze followed the movement for a moment before finding Max’s again. “I want you to suck my dick,” he said quietly, but certainly sure of it. It still made him feel a little more jittery, though, like it was something forbidden. He supposed he would have to retrain himself to understand that it wasn’t. “And I want to return the favor.” He reached for one of Max’s hands and pulled it toward him. Instead of licking it like somebody, Brady pressed his lips to his knuckles. “If you want.”

Max couldn’t resist the playfulness that overtook him at that moment. His actions may have made Brady roll his eyes in annoyance, but the familiar expression had Max’s heart fully skipping a beat. Max might do a lot of dumb things on a day to day basis. Some intentional and some not. Sometimes even he couldn’t stand himself. He dwelled on it more than he’d care to admit; wondering if he said or did the wrong thing enough people would finally get tired of it once and for all. But he never thought that with Brady. Go figure, the one who would roll his eyes at him about a hundred times a day. Maybe Max just liked his honesty; something a lot of people were too afraid to give him. Or maybe he just knew Brady accepted his bullshit no matter what. Even when they were in the middle of, well, this.

His smile softened as his eyes fell to watch Brady’s hand ghost over his skin. And Jesus -- it was hot just seeing his hands on Max again. Feeling his fingertips graze over his stomach. Max hadn’t openly admitted to getting butterflies since he was in the seventh grade and Jessica Kaplan kissed him in the hall after sixth period. But somehow Brady caused that terminology to come to mind for him again. Brady’s own words pulled a raspy laugh from his throat, head tilting back against the mattress as Brady began to stroke him through the fabric of his shorts. His smile lingered far longer than the laugh did, though he struggled not to roll his hips into the touch. “You mean besides talk?” He managed to tease back, before the tone shifted. The more Brady touched him, the more of him Max wanted. His gaze fell Brady's face, feeling all too soft while he kissed Max’s knuckles. Not to mention turned on as hell by the request. It was nothing they both hadn't been thinking about, but hearing Brady say it hit him full force. "I think I can manage that," he murmured, warmth seeping into his tone now. Overwhelmed with his need to finally cut the bullshit and touch him like he'd been wanting to, Max leaned in to press their lips together. It was slower than the others, but no less intense.

“Of course I want,” Max said quietly, as he broke apart, eyes meeting his as his hands came to rest on Brady’s stomach. Thumbs brushed over Brady's skin deliberately. "All of it." His touch was gentle, even as he began to push him off of him and back off the bed, urging Brady to stand in front of him instead. Max sat up into a sitting position, reaching out for his hand to tug him towards him. His legs widened for Brady to step between, and he entangled their fingers briefly, squeezing his hand gently. But he had to let go, letting his hands settle on Brady's hips instead. Before doing anything, Max looked up at him as he leaned in to brush a kiss over his bare stomach. "Missed you, you know," he muttered, not for the first time, and dropped his hands to inch the fabric of Brady's own shorts as he trailed kisses down his body. His lips brushed against one of his hip bones, open mouthed and careful. But before he could do much more, he tipped his head back to look at him, eyes drifting over his body. "You wanna lay down for this?" He breathed as he brushed his hand over Brady's cock, barely touching him. "Want you to be comfortable."

Brady tried not to think about the way his heart was racing again as their hands joined together for a moment. As familiar as sex with Max had become to him, this exact reaction felt reminiscent of the first time it happened. The exhilaration of something new, specifically something he had just managed to admit that he wanted. The slight nervousness (which he was going to keep way deep down) about possibly fucking this up. But he reminded himself that this was far from that first time. That had been drunkenly hooking up with his friend, and this... this was Brady and Max for fucking real. He knew how things worked between them, so he didn’t have to focus on the nerves. And Brady just wanted Max to know he could do shit like that, squeeze his hand, without fear of Brady throwing a fit about it. Or shit like looking up and reiterating that he had missed him. Brady let out a quiet sigh, hands coming up to the sides of Max’s face. The things this dude did to him. He wanted to say he missed him too, but he didn’t want to drive it into the ground, so he let Max’s words hang in the air for the both of them as Brady held his gaze a bit longer. Max dropping his pants kinda pulled him out of it, though. And the hand that barely touched him made it much harder to focus. Still, Brady knew what he wanted — and that was Max, now. “No,” he said, shaking his head quickly. Max was being sweet as usual, but Brady didn’t have time for that right now. One hand on Max’s face dropped down to his side and the other moved to run through Max’s hair instead. “I want it just like this.” Which meant Max would probably have to readjust to make it work, and if he didn’t want to do that then obviously Brady would relent. But he wanted to stand here and look at him, to give back every little bit Max gave to him. And in return, he would do it however Max wanted as well. “That okay with you, cowboy?”

The familiar hand in his hair sent chills down Max’s spine. Having Brady looking at him and touching him so carefully beforehand was overwhelming in a way he didn’t expect. He exhaled slowly when he called him cowboy, a raspy sort of laugh pulling from his lips. Fuck. He didn’t know why he liked that. Maybe he really did have some kind of weird cowboy kink. But he knew deep down that it was the way Brady said it, so much like the first time they ever did this. It was funny how something so strange could make him equal parts sentimental and crazy for the guy in front of him, but Max didn’t stop to question it. He never did when it was with him. “You know it is.” His eyes lingered on his face as he stretched down to drag his lips over his abdomen. He finally lowered his gaze when he had to shift back on the bed a bit in order to gain more room to give him what he wanted. Max wanted this just as much, and for once he wasn’t going to waste any more time teasing him or cracking jokes to make this seem less than what it was. Max leaned down, hand stroking his cock as his breath ghosted over the head. It was only briefly before he was guiding him into his mouth, tongue gliding against the underside as he moaned against him. Having Brady stand there and watch him made his skin hot; only fueled him to make this even better for him.

Brady bit his lip, watching Max readjust and then lean in. His whole body stilled as Max’s lips slid over his cock, and then he let out the breath he hadn’t meant to hold. His legs might have given out from under him if he hadn’t been careful about it. For fuck’s sake, it was like he didn’t even know what Max’s mouth felt like. As if it hadn’t been a regular feeling for him at some point. He had missed this so damn much while he was gone. It was only now, in this exact moment that he was able to truly understand how much. “Jesus, Max.” The hand in Max’s hair couldn’t seem to stop moving, coming to the front just to push it back again, over and over until he finally stopped to hold the back of his head. The sight of Brady’s cock in Max’s mouth almost made him lightheaded. “You’re incredible,” Brady told him, and the way his stomach flipped told him he meant that in more ways than one. He wanted to tell him, though. He wanted Max to know what he was thinking, and that was new, but Brady could get used to it. He was being reduced to a lot less because of what Max was doing at the moment, though. Words he wanted to say quickly dissolved into moans instead, but he still managed to get out, “Fuck. Feels so good.” Brady didn’t even realize he was slowly rocking his hips to meet Max’s mouth, not quite at the same pace or enough to overwhelm him right away. But he was driving him insane. As much as Brady could stand here and watch Max suck him off forever, he also wanted so much more. Brady brought both hands to Max’s arms in a desperate attempt to pull him up from a weird angle. “C’mere. Fuck. I want to kiss you,” he said breathlessly.

Max moaned around him as Brady's hips moved; feeling the slide of him against his tongue. His fingertips dug into his hips, but didn't stop him from moving them. Fuck --- this was somehow better than the times he remembered before. Maybe it'd been too long, or maybe it was because it was different now. He opened his eyes to look up at him as he spoke, the sound of Brady's broken words and the feeling of his hand in Max's hair sending chills all over his whole body. It was unreal how much he liked this; how much he'd been dying to do it again without Max even fully realizing. He only pulled off of him when Brady began to tug him upwards, and he breathed in deeply to catch his breath before allowing himself to be pulled up. He really didn't have to ask him twice right now; Max wanted his mouth all over Brady, now that they finally had the opportunity to be like this after literal months. He just didn't want to stop touching him. Max snaked an arm around his shoulders as he tugged him in close, mouth just a breath away from Brady's own. He brushed their noses together, pressing a shaky kiss to his jawline. This wasn't just about hooking up; not anymore. And he wanted Brady to know he was on the same page as him too. So Max did what he'd asked without hesitation, pressing their lips together insistently as he stepped in impossibly closer towards him.

Brady kissed him without any hint of uncertainly, knowing only that he wanted to touch him in every way possible at the moment. He realized all too quickly how much he had actually taken kissing Max for granted. It was just as intimate as it ever was and Brady was still holding onto his arms tightly to keep him right where he was. He was desperate not to let this slip through his fingers again, in any possible way. So as he had decided early, he wanted to give Max back everything he had given him. Brady reluctantly broke the kiss to push Max’s shoulders and urge him to sit back on the bed. Once he got him there, Brady held Max’s jaw, tilting his head up just as he himself leaned down to meet his lips. He was determined to make it clear that this was special, and that was all he could think as he moved to press open-mouthed kisses to Max’s neck instead. His teeth would graze the skin and his tongue was never far behind, until Brady settled on a spot right above his collarbone where he bit down and then sucked what would certainly be a mark into the skin there. He lifted his head to survey his work, and the hand on Max’s jaw moved to trace over the red mark instead. Brady was sure he’d be satisfied with it later. But for now, he met Max’s gaze and got down on his knees in front of him. He pulled on Max’s shorts until he helped him get them off, and then Brady wrapped a hand around his cock and leaned down to press his lips to the head of it. His movements were slow but not deliberately teasing; Brady didn’t want to do that right now. He had just missed him and wanted to memorize him all over again. He inched him into his mouth and thanked whatever fucking divine intervention allowed him to get to do this again. His hand stayed gripping the base of Max’s cock while the other slid up his thigh to come to rest at his hip. And he’d be damned if this wasn’t going to be the best goddamn blowjob Max had ever gotten in his life.

Max wanted to kiss Brady just as badly as Brady had wanted to kiss him, so he moved along with him just to keep feeling him. One hand moved to tangle in Brady's hair as he guided him back against the bed, only letting his head fall back once he felt the other's lips at his neck. His breath hitched in his throat while Brady's lips and teeth came in contact with his skin, and he groaned lowly, fisting his hand in his hair as his neck tilted to the side, granting him better access. Brady’s lips and hands on Max’s skin made him feel warm and electric all at once, just like they always had. But now he wasn’t thinking about what would happen if Brady knew how much he liked this, not just because it felt good, but because it was with him. Max has never really been good at pretending otherwise. But now there was a comfort in being with him like this that he hadn’t quite felt before, and despite his urgency to feel his mouth on him, his gaze on him softened. Max’s hand still remained in his hair, but this time he only brushed it back as Brady slid him into his mouth. “Fuck, Brady,” the words emitted from his lips quietly, and he wanted to watch him do this, like he was trying to memorize the sight. Max’s hips lifted up, sliding further into Brady’s mouth before he could help it. He was careful not to go overboard, but he couldn’t seem to keep still. Max was breathless at the sight and fucking amazing it felt. “You’re so... damn perfect,” his words were breathless as he watched the slide of Brady’s lips over his cock. Max’s hand dropped to his shoulder, fingertips splaying gently against the side of his neck, eyes roaming over his best friend’s face.

“Jesus, B,” the familiar nickname tumbled from his tongue as he tried to focus as well as get Brady’s attention. His words managed to hold a warmth to them, even as he was immersed in how it felt to have Brady’s mouth working over him. And he spoke; words a sentiment and tease all at once. “You’re never goin’ to stupid Europe again.”

The hand pushing his hair back, coupled with Max’s words and the slight raise of his hips had Brady moaning shamelessly around him. All he wanted to focus on right now was making Max feel good, and the fact that he was able to do that as easily as reciting his fuckin’ ABCs was so satisfying. It wasn’t surprising that Max did the same to him — it really didn’t take much for him to get Brady going. That might have once been surprising, at some point even a nuisance, but now it was just the way things were. And Brady was glad for it. The simple nickname never seemed to sound as sweet from anyone else as it did in Max’s voice. It nearly caused Brady to forget how to breathe. He pulled back and sat up a bit so he could gather himself and just look at Max for a moment. And Max was absolutely right; Brady didn’t want to go fucking anywhere. He didn’t respond, instead getting onto the bed and crawling up to sit back against the headboard. He reached for Max and pulled him into his lap.

Brady’s hands rested on Max’s hips while he leaned up a bit to kiss him. As he made his way down to his neck, he took note of the mark he’d left before and stopped. He hadn’t quite been careful with where it was, but maybe that was the point. “I want everyone to see this,” he breathed, fingers tracing the spot on Max‘s skin, “and know they can’t have you.” Brady then looked up at his face instead, meeting his eyes as he was instantly overcome with affection. Looking right into Max’s eyes and feeling that ache in his chest, the good kind that told him he’d never felt this way about anyone before, no longer had to be worrying. Brady didn’t want to have to think twice about anything anymore. “You’re mine,” he said softly, in the sincerest way possible. As turned on as Brady was by the prospect that nobody else could touch Max, he was equally as captivated by the notion that he could be so sure of what Max was to him. One of the hands on Max’s hip slid to around his waist and the other came up to the side of his neck. Again, Brady didn’t think twice and told him, “And I’m yours.” He would do whatever it took to show he meant that. He pressed a lingering kiss to Max’s shoulder, both arms now wound tightly around him.

Then Brady shifted his hips to show he was still absolutely focused on the matter at hand despite his slight interruption. He was still painfully hard and there were other matters to attend to. “I want to do whatever you want.” God, he meant it. He didn’t even fucking know where his limits were at this point. “Do you want me to fuck you?” Brady’s lips were close to Max’s ear. He dropped the hand on Max’s neck between them to wrap around his cock instead. “Or do you want to fuck me?” Something he’d never so freely asked anyone else. Of course it was never the same with Max, and Brady didn’t have to worry about letting his guard down and wanting it just as much.

It was difficult to pinpoint how long Max had wanted Brady like this. Yet with having him look at him so steadily while pulling him closer, Max had a difficult time remembering a point where he didn’t feel like this. Like his body was lit on fire and there were hundreds of butterflies dancing around his rib cage. Max went with him easily, straddling his lap as an arm snaked around Brady’s shoulders. His breath caught in his throat and the words, and his chest constricted at the proclamation. His free hand came up to cup his jaw, angling his face upwards and towards his so he could just look at him. Warmth and a certain possessiveness he never allowed himself to feel in entirety took over, and he lowered his head to hover a breath away from Brady's. "I've been yours." His tone was hushed yet pointed as he rolled his hips down against him. His lips brushed against his cheekbone, then to the side of his mouth, before hesitating. He exhaled softly. "Just had to wait for you to catch up." Max would normally smile, but he wanted this too bad. He pressed their lips together, gentle and desperate to feel him closer all at once. Brady's words rolled pleasantly over his skin, and he couldn't help but picture both suggestions automatically as Brady stroked him. Brady was so rarely open like this with him, though, and he wanted to bask in it. Wanted to make the most of this. He ceased the rolling of his hips, hands falling down to Brady's shoulders as he stared down at him, not breaking eye contact. "I wanna fuck you tonight," he spoke slowly, before stretching down to graze his own trail of kisses over Brady's neck. "I just fucking...need to feel you again." His words vibrated over his skin as his hands gently pushed at Brady's shoulders, guiding him down onto the bed. He leaned back just to look at him, wanting to make sure this was alright. "That okay?"

Part of Brady knew that. He knew that he hadn’t needed to worry about Max going anywhere. In fact, it was what made things so difficult the past several months — Brady knowing damn well what Max thought of him, and doing what he did anyway. It didn’t matter now, though; Max may have had to wait, but Brady was here now. And fuck if he was going anywhere. Instead of telling Max he’d had him longer than Brady himself even knew it, he let the moment pass between them, their desperate touching and kisses saying enough for both of them. Then Max’s hands pressed against his shoulders and his words caused Brady’s stomach to flip, just as Max started to kiss his neck. He wasn’t kidding when he said he wanted whatever Max did, because the moment those words hit him, Brady was overwhelmed with how badly he wanted it. He wanted to see Max the way no one else got to see him. He wanted to feel every part of him, and to show Max how deeply he trusted him in the best way Brady knew how. So he nodded as he lay back on the bed, mouth suddenly feeling dry as hell when he wanted to talk. Brady swallowed and then tried again. “Yeah. Okay,” he confirmed. For a split second his mind flickered back to the last time Max had fucked him, and how wrong it had been between them. The way Max had spoken to and looked at him that time was wildly different than what Brady knew him to be. The contrast between then and now was almost startling, but Brady allowed himself to relax as he realized this was now, and they weren’t fighting over dumb shit anymore. Brady reached up to place a hand on the back of Max’s neck and pull him in for another kiss. He broke apart after a moment, but his eyes stayed shut and he kept Max’s face close to his own. “Just go easy on me, cowboy,” he said softly, and the smirk he gave him as he opened his eyes made it clear he was joking around. But maybe only half so.

The nickname automatically brought another smile to his lips, and Max’s palms pressed onto the mattress beside Brady’s head, holding himself up as he gazed down at him. “I can do that,” he spoke gently, tone warm with sincerity. “‘Specially if you keep calling me that.” Max remembered the last time Brady let him do this. How bad it had felt after they were done and how they barely talked to each other afterwards. He wanted him to know that he was sorry; that he could trust him. Max stretched his neck down for another kiss, this one so much gentler than the rest. But after a moment, he was leaning back, climbing off of Brady and sitting on his knees beside him. He smoothed his right hand up Brady’s chest, still touching him as he stretched forward to the drawer beside his bed to grab the supplies he kept there. After a moment, he was back, dropping the lube and condoms beside them before nudging himself back between Brady’s legs. His hands smoothed over his thighs before gripping them gently, pulling him closer. And his breath stuttered in his throat as they made contact again. He reached for the lube on the bed, opening the cap with one hand while his other wrapped around Brady’s cock, stroking him as his eyes drifted over his face. Max leaned in for a moment, kissing him for what felt like the billionth time in the last half hour. But it didn’t stop his heart from pounding heavily in his chest every time. “You sure?” He murmured, and he wasn’t sure if he meant just right in this present moment. This all happened so fast, and it was almost too good to be true.

Max’s touch was gentle and slow and much more Max, and that was nothing short of calming for Brady while he was grappling with all these thoughts in his head and wanting this to be better than it had ever been. It occurred to him he had to stop worrying about that and just let it be, and that was what he tried to do as Max kissed him but still hesitated. He was grateful that Max was the way that he was, sweet in the most genuine way, but Brady also wanted him so badly and didn’t want to put it off any longer. “Yes,” he said seriously, still glad that Max even stopped to ask despite wanting to get on with it. Brady looked up at the ceiling as Max pressed into him, and immediately Brady had to remind himself that it was fine and not to tense up. He thought about how desperate he had been to be with Max like this again and Brady looked at him again to center himself. It was interesting, the way he felt like he needed those little moments of reassurance even if he didn’t have to think twice about who he was with. It was just... different, and it had been a while. But it was nothing he was unfamiliar with. “Fuck,” he breathed, overwhelmed with both the physical and emotional sensations he was getting from being this close again. Brady licked his lips and then brought a hand down to touch Max’s arm, the one still stroking him. “It’s good,” he told him, because he figured Max might expect the reassurance the same way he did right now. Brady was practically buzzing with anticipation, but he was still focused enough to know when he was ready, and he wanted Max for real now. “Okay, I...I’m good. You can do it.”

Max waited for Brady’s answer to go any further, needing that go ahead and reassurance that he wanted this just as much as he did. Relief and affection burned in his chest, and he didn’t want to keep holding back with him anymore. Last time Brady has trusted him like this, he’d been so dead set on trying not to feel anything that he hadn’t thought about Brady like he should have. And he didn’t want that to happen again. Seeing Brady under him felt so surreal, and he was overwhelmed with how much he wanted him. How much he’d been wanting him this whole fucking time. Max sat up on his knees as he took a hold of the lube, taking a condom along with it. He was careful as he stretched down to kiss him again, slow as he exhaled gently through it. He gathered the lube on his fingers, dropping his hand between them as he pressed a digit against him. He didn’t go further, breaking the kiss only to brush his lips over his cheek instead. “S’okay,” he reassured quietly. His hand rose up to stroke his cock briefly, lube making the motion slicker, and he hoped it was enough to get him to relax. And the sight of everything just caused his desire for him to grow even further. “Love how you look like this,” He murmured as his hand trailed downward once more, finger pressing against him before carefully working him open. Max littered kisses down his jaw and to his neck as he took his time with it, not wanting to rush it. Finally, he lifted his head to hover his lips in front of Brady’s, eyes searching his. “That good?” His voice lowered, a little raspy. It was only when Brady gave him the go ahead that he rolled the condom on himself. One of his hands gripped Brady’s thigh as he pressed it against his hip, positioning himself fully between his legs. He inhaled sharply, grasping the base of his cock before pressing it against Brady. His eyes locked on his, silently giving him time to change his mind. But that never came, and slowly, Max began inch inside him.

Brady looked down, watching Max’s movements carefully as he rolled the condom on and settled further between Brady’s legs, and all at once it seemed to hit him exactly what was about to happen here. Not that he hadn’t been aware of what they were doing, but it ran much deeper than just having sex in so many ways. Not the least of which being the conversation that had been left unfinished a few hours ago, and Brady focused on his breathing as he remembered once again that this would be the first time they were... together? Or whatever the fuck they would say once they had a chance to talk it through. Regardless, it filled him with a warmth he hadn’t felt in a really long time. Brady kept one hand on Max’s arm while the other came up to his own hair, and both held tightly while Max pushed his hips forward just slightly. Brady’s groan was instantaneous and both hands flew to Max’s chest instead. It was almost instinct, a silent but definitely abrupt way to tell him to wait a second. Needless to say, it had been a while. And Brady was still working on chilling the fuck out. He took that moment, with the slight distance between them, to take a breath. He had just been reminded mere moments ago how much he trusted Max, and he had to keep that at the forefront of his mind.

Brady’s hands slid from Max’s chest down to his sides and he gave him a firm nod, so he knew he was sure. He didn’t brace himself or anything this time, instead keeping all of his muscles relaxed as Max pressed into him a little further, and then even more, and just the all around idea of Max being inside of him as he adjusted to the feeling caused a rush of affection to wash over Brady again. His arms wrapped all the way around Max’s torso in a loose hug. He had him close enough that he could lean up and kiss his collarbone, just once, quickly. But it let both of them know Brady was relaxed and absolutely happy to be where he was presently. “Okay,” Brady murmured, because even if actions spoke louder than words or whatever, he still needed to speak up. “You can move.” He was almost surprised at the sound of his own voice right now. It wasn’t unsure, or demanding, or anything like it might usually be in bed with Max. It was quiet and calm, which matched how he felt on the inside right now. The affection he felt for him was burning much hotter than the pure desire he was used to feeling — though that was very much there too. Brady kissed up his neck and reached his ear. “It feels good. But I want more.” Brady pulled it between his teeth for a lingering moment, and even if Max couldn’t see that he was smirking, he was sure he heard it when he spoke next. “Take me to the Old Town Road.”

Max halted the movement of his hips immediately as Brady stopped him. He held his breath for a moment, wanting to go as slow as he needed him too. After a moment, he exhaled slowly, dropping his head to litter kisses across Brady’s collar bone and neck. He felt so good around him already; Max craved more of the closeness. He wanted to push himself impossibly closer. His teeth pulling at his ear and the teasing words encouraged him to do just that, and chills broke out over his skin as he rocked his hips forward, pushing into him. “You sure you want that?” Words were spoken breathlessly as one hand laid flat by Brady’s head. The other grasped his thigh, holding him closer still. His fingertips pressed into his skin lightly; hands careful as though he may scare him off somehow. Max’s lips brushed against Brady’s own, smiling against them even as desire coursed through him at full force. He pulled his hips back teasingly, before rolling them forward slowly, back arching as he moved to his own words. “Want me to ride ‘till I can’t no more?” Teasing and actual lust and need had co-mingled, and he didn’t try to stop it anymore. Not when he was this comfortable with him. Affection spread through Max’s chest like wildfire.

Brady’s skin felt hot wherever Max touched him. The hand on his thigh, holding him close was driving Brady crazy; he wanted Max to touch him everywhere, wanted to be as close as possible and stay that way. Brady had been the one to bring up the joke, but when Max carried on with it, Brady couldn’t help it — he rolled his eyes. Fuck if it didn’t make him smile at the same time, though. “Not how this works, dumbass.” But he was far from annoyed with him. Max’s bullshit had always been some level of endearing to him, despite his responses. Brady’s arms were still around him and he slowly slid his hands down Max’s back until he reached his ass. “Gonna need you to start moving those hips, though.” Teasing was Brady’s game — and even if he liked Max to play the game at times too, right now was not one of them. He brought one hand up to brush through Max’s hair and the other glided over his chest and shoulder. “Giddyup.” He grinned, the hand in Max’s hair allowing him to pull him close for another slow kiss.

Having Brady being so playful with him like this made him feel light and airy, and he smiled despite how far gone he was already. Max had been wanting him for months now, and it was enough to shut him up for the time being. Lust and affection always seemed to hit him all at once when it came to Brady, but the difference was now he could freely show both. Max laughed, almost breathless as he began to rock his hips into him. He kissed him slowly as began to set a pace, rocking into him carefully at first. His hand squeezed Brady's thigh before he let go, palm smoothing up Brady's stomach and torso instead. He deepened the kiss with ease even as his breath caught in his throat at how amazing Brady felt around him. He didn't even have something stupid to say in response to the Giddyup. But they'd have time for that later. Max's hand rose up to grasp Brady's own, holding it to his chest as he gave him what he asked for, rolling his hips into him with an increased power. His lips brushed clumsily against Brady's jaw as he entangled their fingers together on his chest. "Fuck," he whispered before muffling a moan against the skin of his neck. His hand squeezed Brady's gently before he released it, leaning his head back to glance down at him. His hands steady on the bed beside him, snapping his hips forward, yet still watching him for any signs he needed him to stop or slow down. "You feel so fucking good."

Brady stared at their hands clasped together against Max’s chest, a little mesmerized by the mere sight of it and amazed that he didn’t feel the need to pull it back. It was just them in this room. There was nothing to get all panicky about. Those little gestures somehow felt a hell of a lot more intimate than Max literally fucking him, possibly because he had tried to train his brain all those months ago not to associate sex with Max with anything remotely romantic. He was more than happy to undo all that in his head now. Max’s breath on his neck snapped him out of it just as he dropped Brady’s hand, and then Brady was back to looking up at his face instead. His body moved with each of Max’s thrusts and though he’d gotten re-accustomed to feeling him inside him, added to the words Max said and the sight of him like this, it was still overwhelming all of his senses in a way he certainly didn’t hate. “Yeah?” was all Brady could get out at first, the word quickly followed by Brady swallowing once he noticed his throat had gone dry. He still had the hand that’d been in Max’s hair now lingering on the back of his neck, so Brady threaded his finger through it once again. He held onto it, not tightly enough to hurt him or anything, but enough that he could tip his head back slightly and Brady could get a good look at him.(edited)

And there looking at him, Brady licked his lips, then made a quick decision in the moment. “Hold on. I want to...move.” He let go of Max’s hair so both hands could move to his chest once again. Brady pushed him until he got the hint and pulled out, causing Brady to groan at the loss, but he sat up to kiss him regardless. He had a hand on Max’s shoulder when he leaned back once again to look at him for a moment, then he turned onto his knees and planted his hands on the mattress. He looked over his shoulder and was instantly hit with a wave of déjà vu, though the last time he’d been in this exact position, he hadn’t felt quite so in control. Of anything. “I want it like this,” he said assuredly, filled with genuine warmth that he could be this open about what he wanted and have someone be actually receptive to it. And he was sure, more than.

Max’s skin felt hot wherever Brady would touch, causing his brain to fizzle out. His body was on auto, hips rocking into Brady while his lips and hands touched wherever he could reach. He was lost in it, until Brady was pushing him back and getting in that position. And Max was losing his mind all over again. “God,” he managed to say as his eyes drifted over Brady’s body, taking note of the curve of his spine and how beautiful he could make the simplest things seem. They’d done it like this once before, but it wasn’t like this. Max definitely hadn’t gotten to appreciate it last time, or even understand in the moment what this meant. But now he did, and that realization caused him stopped him from just acting without thought like he usually did. Max’s hand raised to brush his palm up his back, leaning in to press a kiss to his shoulder, trailing up to the back of his neck. His hand tangled gently in his hair, not tugging it but guiding Brady's neck to the side. "I couldn’t stop thinking about you when you were gone." His words were hoarse, the affection clear in them. Max’s stomach flipped for not the first time that night. He had thought about him, in so many different ways. He brushed his nose against the side of his neck before pressing his lips against the skin, teeth coming out to tug at it gently before his tongue soothed over it. "You have no idea how good you look." Or how perfect he was. His words were uttered quietly, breath brushing over Brady's skin as he pressed his hips against him. His hand smoothed back down his back down to his ass, squeezing the flesh before grasping the base of his cock with his other hand. Carefully, he inched back in him, no longer stifling any sounds. A small groan escaped from his lips feeling him around him again, and Jesus, he didn't want this to end. He gave him time to re-adjust, rocking his hips at a pace that was all too slow. But the more he felt Brady ease into it, the more he relaxed into it himself.

His thrusts soon became faster; more powerful as his hand came to grip at Brady's hip. It was easy to lose himself; to lose track of time. All he could think about or focus on was Brady and the way he sounded. How he moved under him with every thrust. His other reached around him, gripping his cock to attempt to stroke him at the same pace. He struggled to breathe properly as his hips thrust out of rhythm, just needing to feel more of him. Max brought his head back down to Brady's ear. His hand squeezed the base of Brady's cock before flicking his wrist upwards. Max’s voice was hoarse and broken. “Can't wait to see you come for me like this."

Brady still didn’t feel tense or unsure, but putting himself in this particular position that he wasn’t very used to, even with somebody he was used to made him feel all kinds of exposed. It wasn’t a bad thing, though. Just something he had to get used to, because the warmth that spread over his skin while Max touched him was not at all unpleasant. He was in fact blushing, something he was finding to be a pattern now, but this time he wasn’t ashamed or anything like that. If anything, he was a little impatient waiting to feel Max inside him again. He tried to focus on his lips, his hands, the quiet words in his ear reminding him that Max was just trying to take his time and appreciate him. But Brady missed the feeling already. He didn’t have time to think of a response, wasn’t even sure if he could think of one, before he finally felt Max inside him again. It was easier this time, but Brady’s hands still twisted into the sheets below him while he adjusted to the feeling. “That’s good,” he told him, not for the first time tonight. And once Max got going again, Brady didn’t want him to stop.

Thankfully, he didn’t. Not that Brady had expected him to or anything, but he was certainly known to be a tease himself, and needless to say he was glad that Max wasn’t quite in the mood to subject him to that same exquisite torture. Brady alternated between white-knuckling the sheets and trying to reach back to touch him, all the while moaning every time Max hit him just right or sighing when he remembered how much he’d missed him. He knew from the start this wouldn’t last; they’d been apart too long to drag this out. That became much clearer when Max touched his cock, stroking him as he fucked him, and Brady groaned as he reached down to try to cover his hand with his own, to feel what Max was feeling. Brady’s eyes shut tightly as he heard Max’s voice in his ear, and then he could hear his own labored breathing. He could hardly keep it together at this point. But he mirrored what Max has done just moments ago and squeezed the base of his own cock. As much as he would also like to come just like this... “I wanna come in your mouth,” he told him quickly, his words as frantic as he felt. Once again he looked behind him, the sight of Max all draped over him and fucking him just about knocking the wind out of him. “Fuck. Can I?”

With each and every movement, Max was getting closer and closer himself. The sounds falling from Brady's lips were intoxicating, and Max couldn’t seem to get enough of him. Everything about him right now just brought Max closer to the edge; he wanted them both to come. But most importantly, he wanted Brady to completely come undone. It took Bradys request for him to realize how badly he wanted to see his face when it happened. Max groaned again, fingers tightening over Brady’s cock as his own hand covered Max’s. “Oh my God,” his breath seemed to hitch in his throat, and the desire he felt in that moment somehow managed to deepen. “Yeah, you fucking can.” His hand came to curl in Brady’s hair again, guiding his head back for a heated kiss as he inhaled unevenly. Jesus, every inch of his body right now felt so overheated and wired. He kept thrusting into him, pace now uneven, until he made himself stop. With a soft moan of frustration, Max pulled out of him, hands falling to his hips to steady him. But instead of going slow this time, Max’s hands slid up to his sides, urging him to turn back over. He was still so hard, and the idea of Brady coming in his mouth after Max had fucked him was driving him absolutely insane. His own cock literally ached, but he didn’t care, because he suddenly wanted this as much as Brady did.

Something took over Max in that moment. The complete lust he felt fueled him to slide away from him completely. He didn’t think as he stood up from the bed on legs that weren’t entirely steady, gazing at his body laying on the bed as he did so. He turned for a moment to remove his condom, tossing it in the waste basket without a second thought. His eyes met Brady’s as he dropped down to his knees beside the bed. Despite himself, his lips quirked upwards, borderline playful. If he weren’t so turned on right now, at least. “Want you to do it. Come in my mouth.” One of his hands wrapped around his own cock while his other sought out Brady’s thigh, waiting for him to position himself in front of him. But he didn’t even wait for him to fully be situated before he was running his hand up his thigh, fingers tracing over Brady’s cock. His fingers curled over him fully in a firm grip the second he had the right angle. “You’re so close,” he spoke with a crack in his tone as he stroked himself with his other hand, not being able to stand the lack of friction. He kept his hands on both himself and Brady at the same time, trying to keep the same pace as he groaned. His eyes lifted towards him, just looking at him for a second, before his tongue brushed over the head of Brady’s cock, sucking him gently into his mouth before releasing him briefly so he could inhale sharply. Though he didn’t dare stop the steady pace of his hands. “Fuck. Come on. Come for me, Brady.” He dipped his head in closed, lips and tongue brushing over him. Fuck. He wanted them both to come.

Brady tried to catch his breath while Max got on the floor, but it was useless anyway, since his heart continued to pound as he shifted toward the edge of the bed. Max touched him before Brady even had a chance to get there. He leaned back on his hands and his head fell back, but he managed to pick it back up so he could look down and watch what Max was doing. He was right; Brady was incredibly close, and he knew this wasn’t going to take much. Especially not when he felt Max’s lips and tongue on him again. Coupled with the sight of Max stroking himself to get himself there at the same time, Brady couldn’t handle it. He sat up straighter so he didn’t have to lean on his hands. One went to hold Max’s hair, tighter than he had earlier but still not enough to hurt him or anything, and the other pushed Max’s hand away from Brady’s cock so he could hold it himself. He barely had to thrust his hips even once before he tensed, a breathy moan followed by Max’s name falling from his lips as he came. He tried to watch Max the whole time, but the sight of his mouth around him was too much, and Brady had to focus more on not hurting him or doing too much while he rode it out. He let out a long breath once he started to come down, slowly pulling back from Max’s mouth and giving him a second to come back.

Once Max looked up at him, Brady tugged him up and leaned down to meet him halfway in a deep kiss, both hands cradling his face. Brady could taste himself still, and it was so deeply intimate and intense as he was still trying to recover from his mind being blown. He broke the kiss to catch his breath, keeping his face close. “You’re amazing,” he told him sincerely, and then finally moved away completely. He reached over beside Max for the tissues and handed them over to him. He felt a little unstable, a little out of control, and that was the best feeling after craving it for so long. He went slowly back onto the bed, his movements careful, and settled back against the pillows. He watched Max with tired eyes, waiting for him to come join him, and when he did Brady felt his stomach flip. This was real, suddenly even more so now that he’d felt him for the first time all over again, and now there was nothing to do except...talk, and be there. Brady swallowed. “I missed you,” he said for the hundredth time. A safe bet. He raised his arm and moved for Max to come right to him. “C’mere.”

It took a moment after they both came for Max to start to get any rational thought back. His bones felt slack; every muscle in his body completely relaxed. His heart still remained pounding in his chest even as he cleaned himself up with the tissues Brady handed him. He felt like he was moving in slow motion as he joined him on the bed, just as they’d done before, but Max felt so much different. He couldn’t stop the way his chest felt airy; every part of him filled with affection and excitement. He knew he didn’t have to stop himself from feeling that. But when Brady beckoned him over, he was still pleasantly surprised. Max exhaled slowly, still coming down from his high, when he slid his body over next to him. He didn’t second guess himself as he turned onto his side, arm raising to sling across Brady’s stomach. Max’s head turned to press against his chest, and he smiled. The expression was slight, but he knew Brady would feel it anyway. “I managed to get that.” He teased, before lifting his head to look at him. “I missed you too.” His tone was nothing but sincere, and they’d both said it so many times that night already, but he didn’t care. It was no less true. He dropped his head to press a kiss to his skin before turning his head to rest against him, exhaling slowly as he fully relaxed. He wasn’t sure how long they laid there, but it was enough for them to bask in what they’d just done.

He hadn’t expected any of this, but he was far from complaining about how tonight was turning out. His eyes flickered up to Brady’s face. Max knew they had to talk, and he wanted to. He didn’t know what he was doing, here, but that never stopped him before. So he lifted his head once more to prop it up on his hand, gaze soft as he looked at him. Brady’s hair was all ruffled and he looked as relaxed as he felt, and warmth spread through him automatically. He didn’t want to ruin this, but he didn’t know how else to broach the subject with him. So Max let a playful grin cross his lips; his arm sliding back some so his palm could rest on Brady’s torso now. “Hey,” he said softly, and Brady probably knew from the look on his face he was going to say something stupid. And that honestly just made him softer. He tapped his fingers gently on Brady’s chest in an unspecified rhythm. “So what are we?”

Brady wanted to be content with just lying there in silence, but the reality of everything he had said earlier was still very much there and left unfinished. It wasn’t like they could just go about their business leaving that untouched and the thought wouldn’t leave Brady, even as they relaxed there together. Max was the one to move and speak up, and while Brady’s first instinct was to roll his eyes and smile, it wasn’t unfounded. Brady had thought a little bit about the specifics of that in particular, but not too in depth. Really, he just knew that he meant everything he’d said earlier. That he didn’t know what we was waiting for and he wanted to try this with Max. He supposed it was just a matter of being more clear about what this was.

Brady refrained from saying he didn’t know, since that wasn’t constructive at all. He looked up at the ceiling, feeling Max’s comforting presence against him and his eyes watching him, and decided to just be brave and honest — not for the first time today. “Like... a couple. I guess.” All hints of a smile, any sign of joking around were long gone now. Brady wanted to be serious about this, fo make it clear to Max that none of this was just pretend to him. He tilted his head so he could look at him. “I want it to just be you and me.” He has already said before that he wasn’t ready to tell the world, so he didn’t feel the need to repeat it. It didn’t necessarily make him feel good, either. Instead, he lifted a hand to push Max’s hair back gently. “I want you to be my boyfriend.” It felt so foreign for him to say that, for so many reasons, not the least of which being the fact that he was saying it to Max, who a younger Brady could not even fathom being romantically involved with. But life was wild that way, he had come to find out. “If that’s what you want,” he added after a moment, because he had a pretty good idea of where Max stood, but still. Brady ran his hand through Max’s hair again, and then kept it there, playing with the ends of his hair on his neck. His heart was beating so hard in his chest that it was clear Max would notice it, but fuck, he was nervous. This was completely uncharted territory for him in every sense. “I’ve just...never fuckin’ felt this way before. And I don’t want to let that go.” He may not have known exactly what he was doing, but he wanted nothing more than to try. And he hoped that would be enough.

The teasing expression he wore slowly vanished as the tone shifted. It had been meant to break the ice, but Max had also been serious too. After earlier, they’d both agreed that they were at the point where they couldn’t just ignoring things between them. Max had stopped wanting to do that a long time ago, and now Brady was on the same page. He knew Brady wanted to be honest with him, but hearing him be so forthright and honest caused a lump to appear in Max’s throat. His heart stuttered in his chest, a rush of excitement bolting through him. He wanted to be his boyfriend. Jesus. He never thought he’d hear that from him, and having him say it while his hand was in his hair was almost overload. He leaned his head back into the touch as he looked at him, just letting him speak for a moment. And even after he stopped, Max paused a moment, only to drop his hand down to seek out Brady’s. He tangled their fingers together, letting that speak for him for the moment. “It’s what I want.” Max said, tone serious and without an ounce of the teasing that had been in it just moments before. “If you’re sure that’s what you want right now, I want to be your boyfriend.” He knew what Brady had told him before, and he understood it. Max knew good and well things weren’t easy for Brady, but he wanted to try. It felt more than worth it to at least do that. “Then don’t let it go.” He said quietly. “I know it’s gonna be different.” And maybe even hard sometimes. “But I don’t want that to scare us away from somethin’ good.” Max brought their linked hands up to his lips, pressing a small kiss to Brady’s fingers. “I’m in this if you are.” He finally smiled, again, gently. “If that much isn’t already obvious.”

He wasn’t sure if a part of him was actually expecting Max to say no, but Brady felt nothing but relief when that didn’t come. The assurance that he also wanted this felt a hell of a lot better than a mutual agreement that sex meant nothing between them. Brady nodded. “It will be. Different, I mean.” He wasn’t totally sure how he was going to navigate this, being with Max like he wanted to while also still hiding that entire part of himself from the world, but he couldn’t figure it all out right now. This was going to change things, though; Brady could see that from a mile away. He just didn’t think that would necessarily be a bad thing. He watched Max bring his hand to his lips and then smile, and his chest tightened. Brady really, really wanted this to work. And he supposed that meant talking about the things he didn’t particularly want to talk about again.

“I really care about you,” he told him. His eyes flickered to their hands and then back to Max’s face. “So I really need to know you’re okay with this being...just us.” God, he hated how this felt. But he also didn’t feel like he had another choice. “I know I already said it. But I can’t let this get around yet.” The thought of his father seeing on the internet something Brady could hardly even stomach telling him himself made him almost dizzy. “And I need you to understand it has nothing to do with you, ‘cause...I have so much fuckin’ respect for you, man.” The hand in Max’s hair slid around to come to rest on the side of his neck. His thumb brushed over the mark he had left before, when he had made it pretty clear he’d love absolutely nothing more than to show what they had off to everybody. If only everything else didn’t matter. “Too much to make you keep somethin’ a secret if that’s not what you want.” He paused, then shook his head. “But I just wanna come out on my own terms and I don’t know how to do that yet.” His thumb then moved to caress Max’s cheek slowly. It was calming, just being so close and being able to touch him like this. That was how Brady was so sure of what he wanted. And he wanted Max to be just as sure. “You’re okay with that?” he asked, holding his gaze. “‘Cause I’m so in this, it’s not even funny.”

The soft touches to Max’s skin did not help the way his stomach flipped. He’d grown to love the way they’d lay together after sex, and now Brady definitely wasn’t shying away from it. The tenderness of his caresses and the sincerity of his words nearly made Max dizzy. It took awhile for Max to admit to himself that this is what he wanted. And ever since, he hadn’t stopped wanting him, even through everything. “I don’t want you to feel worried about being with me. Or that you have to come out because of me. That’s not what I want.” His words were spoken soft and sincere. Max leaned his head further into Brady’s palm, eyes flickering up to meet his. “This... has been between just us for months now. All I wanted in the first place was for us to be honest with each other. I’m not expecting you to come out immediately, just ‘cause you like me. I’m out, Brady, but I wasn’t always.” And Max had a supportive family. He could only imagine what it was like for Brady, and a twinge of sadness broke through at the thought of it. He turned his head to press a lingering kiss to his palm before diverting his attention back to him. “I’m not gonna do anything to risk you not being able to do it until you’re ready. And I don’t want you to feel like you’re risking something just to be with me.” He said that part with conviction. “But if you wanna do this, with me, then I’m not gonna walk away from that just ‘cause it might be hard sometimes.” He’s said it before, but he’ll say it as many times as he needs to before Brady gets it. “I just want you. I don’t need everyone else to know right now.” He rubbed his thumb over Brady’s fingers, squeezing his hand gently. “I wanna be in this with you. I understand everything, and I get it. But I’m here because I really, really want to be.”

Brady was brought back to reality the more Max spoke, and he’d hardly even realized that it had slipped away from him in the first place. But Max reiterating that he wasn’t always out and proud, that he never expected Brady to do or be anything more than he wanted to or could be made him realize that it had, in a way. But it was true that they’d gone this long keeping everything between themselves, so maybe there wouldn’t be much of a difference at all. Brady wasn’t naive enough to think that this wasn’t a totally different ballgame, but at the end of the day, he was no stranger to secrecy. “I know,” Brady said after a moment, because he did. Max didn’t lie to him or hide how he felt. So Brady felt better, more sure that this was okay and not just what he wanted. And if things got weird... well, they could figure it out. “Fuck it, then. Let’s do it.” Brady urged Max forward a bit so he could kiss him. Just because he wanted to. And that felt good. It reminded him not to worry about all of that other shit at the moment; it was just them, here in this room now, and for the long run. When he pulled away, the hand on Max’s neck moved to wrap around him and rest on his back, while the other came up behind his head as it fell back against the pillow. It was quiet for a while. Brady didn’t know how long, but it was a comfortable kind of quiet. Until he broke it. “Shame that everyone else is gonna have to miss out on sex like that now, though.” His tone and the smirk on his face were both playful, even as he stayed looking up at the ceiling. “Sucks for them.”

Kissing Brady for no reason other than the fact that they wanted to was so much different than the other times. Brady was here, telling him he wanted to be his boyfriend. Max knew full well it wasn’t as easy as maybe he was making it seem, and he knew Brady knew that too. But it was hard to deny how good it felt to be like this. And Brady wanted him too. It was hard not to let the positives outweigh the negatives. Max laid his head down on Brady, eyes falling shut as they fell into a comfortable silence. His arm once again slid over his stomach, face turning towards him. Jesus. A boyfriend. A smile quirked at his lips as he faintly realized what day it was, of all the days. Maybe it was a little bit of a cliché, but Max never minded that anyway. His faint thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Brady’s voice, and he laughed before he spoke. He rolled his head up to look at him. “C’mon, man,” he began lazily, hand raising up to card through Brady’s hair. “I can’t be everyone’s best ever. That’s exhausting. You’re just gonna have to be the lucky one, I guess.”

Brady immediately rolled his eyes, because of course he did, and playfully knocked Max’s hand away from his hair. “And so fuckin’ humble.” It might take him a bit to wrap his head around the fact that Max was really his boyfriend now, and that that was okay, but he knew for sure not much was even going to change between them at all. And that was kinda the whole point. “See if I ever compliment you again,” Brady mumbled. As if he could actually hold back. He was attracted to every inch of him. His eyes ran over each part of him, just to prove it to himself, and then his hand followed suit for good measure. He threaded his fingers through Max’s hair again, dragged it down over his ear and then to his cheek, and ran his thumb over his bottom lip. His hand continued its path along his neck, over his shoulder, and down his back. When he reached his side, Brady abruptly pinched him there, only enough to tickle him, and his other hand joined on the other side. Brady took his opportunity to flip them over so Max was below him, and Brady continued to tickle him for a few seconds before ducking his head down to press his lips to his neck. “Unless you wanna stop being so fuckin’ cocky,” he said softly.

"I do try," he teased, briefly, before he shook his head. "No, I like them," he protested quietly, before his words tapered off as Brady's hand dragged over his skin. The tenderness of it nearly killed him; the butterflies in his stomach thrumming full force again. They'd both slipped up with each other before and did things that just friends shouldn't be doing, but now they definitely weren't just friends, and they could have this. Max relaxed into it instantly, though his skin seemed to break out in pleasant goosebumps as his eyes followed Brady. His expression softened, all traces of playfulness temporarily gone, before Brady pinched him. Max's body jerked a bit as a surprise yelp of laughter pulled from him, caught off guard enough for Brady to flip him. His hands immediately found Brady's shoulders, fingertips digging in lightly but not necessarily pushing him off even as he tickled his sides. The smile that spread over his face was abrupt, and laughter pierced the air again freely. It wasn't long before Brady's lips were at his neck, and the smile that was on Max's face was still wild as he dragged his palms down Brady's back, pulling him tighter against him. "Okay, fine," there was still a hint of laughter in his voice, before his tone warmed. "I'll stop." He felt so fucking light with Brady there on top of him, and right now it was hard not to feel so painfully optimistic. Max felt jittery, but in a good way. One of his hands slid up and into Brady's hair, merely playing with the strands between his fingers before he spoke out quietly, tone matching Brady's without thinking. "But you gotta kiss me first."

Brady lingered there for a moment, his lips brushing against Max’s skin as he listened to him talk and felt his hand in his hair. Brady could abso-fucking-lutely get used to this again. He didn’t think he would ever grow tired of it. He lifted his head and looked down at him, just watching him for a moment. Then he shook his head slowly. “I didn’t hear the magic word,” he said. But they both knew he didn’t really give a fuck, so he gave him a brief smile before leaning back down to do as Max had asked. He could have stayed there for the rest of the day and the entire night, just lying there and kissing him. But Brady pressed his body closer and broke the kiss slightly to sigh against his lips, and reality unfortunately washed over him pretty quickly. “Should probably get dressed,” he muttered, as much as he didn’t even want to admit it himself. He wanted to get lost in him again, forget the world around them and do whatever they wanted, but that wasn’t the case when the world around them would at some point include an unsuspecting roommate. And Brady wanted to keep it that way. “Dunno when Arlo is coming back.” He didn’t immediately get up though, didn’t even back off or pull himself away. Quite the opposite, in fact, as he held himself up on one elbow so his other hand could run along the side of Max’s body and stop to hold him even tighter against him. “And Margaret is probably eating my shoes out there.”

Max was still smiling even when Brady kissed him, hands sliding up to his shoulders and up to his neck, not getting enough of being able to get to touch him like this. He arched his body up against his, pressing against him further. He wanted to deepen the kiss, but they didn’t have the time. “I know.” He sighed, knowing they would have to get up any second now. Max wasn’t sure if they had the best or worst timing. Yet he didn’t immediately move either, head bowing forward to rest in the crook of his neck. “Probably. She does get jealous.” He mumbled against his neck before pressing a small kiss to the skin. He rolled his head back to fall against the bed, eyes raising up to look at Brady’s face. His hand rose up to cup the side of his jaw, thumb stroking along his cheekbone. He knew he wouldn’t be able to get to do this much soon, but he was going to take advantage of it while they were both still there. He spoke out quietly again, although no one else could hear them. “Come to my room later?”

#CANON #love and basketball #current verse #014

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braxarchives · 3 years

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Welcome Home, Brady ― CANON. (current verse)

Very shortly after finally having some semblance of honesty shared between the two, Brady received an offer to work on a project in Europe. It was a no brainer to accept it, leading him to be gone for a few months. Contact between him and Max was scarce, as things felt maybe too awkward, which ultimately leads us here: to Brady finally coming home.

If you had asked Brady a few months ago where he thought he’d be now, he probably wouldn’t say “coming home from two months in Europe.” Mostly because he was kinda broke, and it wasn’t like he could just up and fuckin’ go to another continent for the hell of it. But even if you told them he’d be given opportunities to advance his career, essentially sent to Europe to finally utilize his skills the way he always dreamed of... he’d probably still tell you to fuck off. He didn’t think he was there yet. He wasn’t sure what he was waiting for, when exactly he’d feel like he was in a place where his career was as legit as he wanted it to be. But this was a good start. A foot in the door to a whole bunch of other opportunities. Of course, as he climbed the stairs to the apartment he hadn’t seen in month, he couldn’t help but think about what else that all meant. He’d had to abandon filming and editing for Max in the meantime. While he knew Max was supportive as all hell — best friend and all that — he also knew it was a weird change for both of them. If Brady kept getting to do shit like this, which like, he wanted to do, they were gonna have a lot less time for what they’d always done. And that just was what it was in the scope of their careers. To be honest, since they hadn’t exactly talked a lot while Brady was away, he was looking forward to hearing what Max had been up to the last few months as well. Lord knew the kid was destined for even bigger things than he was doing now. But Brady didn’t have time to stop and get all sappy and shit about Max because he was searching for his apartment key and then unlocking the door.

A sense of warmth washed over him; the feeling of being home after so long away was so fucking nice. As much as he liked Europe, it’s not like he wanted to stay forever. A few months was plenty. Brady wasn’t trying to stay silent or anything, but he didn’t instantly announce his presence or anything like that. In fact, he hadn’t exactly told anyone he was coming back. Maybe it’d slipped his mind at first, and now he just thought it would be kinda funny to just like, be there all of a sudden. He slipped his backpack off his shoulders and it hit the ground with a soft thud, prompting a response from the other room. A short huff of a bark, an attempt at intimidation, sounded from near Brady’s room, and within moments a familiar mound of black fur came trotting out. Draco paused for about a millisecond before recognizing who he was looking at. Just as Draco’s tail started to wag and he resumed his run forward, Brady dropped to his knees with open arms. “What’s up, buddy?” he greeted him in that high-pitched cheerful tone only dogs got out of him. Brady scratched his head and rubbed along his body as Draco tried to just about climb on top of him. And then Brady heard yapping from somewhere else in the apartment, and he looked up over Draco’s head in the general direction he knew Margaret was. In Max’s room, obviously. And while he stayed level with Draco on the ground, his heart warmed even further, all at once. “I missed you, Malfoy.”

Max hadn’t slept very well last night. This new project of his was taking more research than he’d expected. So admittedly, he hadn’t been in the best of moods after having to be up super early for a collab that morning. But he’d been persuaded into napping after Arlo bribed him with food for when he woke up. So naturally, he'd gone to his room and promptly fell into a coma. When he first heard the sound of Margaret whining at his door and Draco making his own noise outside of it, he half thought he was dreaming. Until the noise got louder, and slowly stirred him awake. At first he thought maybe it was Arlo. She did say that she was gonna bring back food later. But after glancing at his phone, it wasn’t even time for her to be back yet. Alarm began to settle in as he heard the murmur of a voice. Who the hell. Confusion and caution mingled with the remnants of sleep as he carefully opened his door. Margaret zoomed in front of him, and his frowned as he followed her to the living room. And he wasn’t sure why he didn’t put the pieces together sooner, but when he saw the reason why, his heart stilled in his chest. His eyes fell on the top of his head first, face hidden by Draco's over-eager hello. But there was no mistaking who it was. If he'd heard his voice clearer he would have known before even stepping out. Brady. Of fucking course he’d show up when he least expected it. That was probably the most Brady thing to do. Max shook his head in disbelief as a smile began to stretch over his face, and it took him a good moment to get his bearings enough to say something. Warmth immediately flooded his chest, and he almost felt like he couldn’t breathe for a long moment.

“You asshole,” he breathed, smile now wild as it all finally sunk in. Brady was home. Margaret had run over to him too, standing on her back legs while her small paws rested against Brady’s leg, trying to get his attention too. Both dogs were beside themselves, desperate for his attention. But Max didn’t even think to wait his turn before his feet were carrying him over to his friend all too quickly. His heart was thumping loudly in his chest as he barely waited for Brady to stand before he was hooking an arm around his shoulders and pulling him into a fierce hug. It had been months since they even had a conversation. He wasn't going to stop himself from hugging his best friend. His chin pressed against his shoulder, and he managed a muffled laugh. "What, texting doesn't work in Europe?" He murmured, lingering for just a moment before releasing him, stepping back only to finally get a good look at him as though he were expecting him to look completely different. Fondness filled his chest again. "Could've told me you were coming back. Unless you're just visitin'." The lightness in his tone was clear, and the overwhelming urge to hug him again was there. But this time he gave him some breathing room. "Don't tell me you liked Europe so much you're gonna move there."

It was super fucking cliché, the way Brady looked up and met Max’s eyes and it suddenly felt like they hadn’t seen each other in years. It may as well have been that long; going from every single day to not at all wasn’t exactly easy. Especially when it was his best friend. Brady grinned right back at him, making sure Draco and Margaret both had all four paws on the floor before he rose to his feet and let Max pull him in. Brady’s own arms wrapped around him, one hand patting Max’s back a few times for good measure. Jesus. It felt like a whole fuckin’ mix of things Brady couldn’t explain. Not that that was anything new for him, not knowing exactly what the fuck was going on. But being away did things to his brain. “Sorry. I was too busy editing videos for my new work partner. Name’s Cam Maxeron. Super cool.” Brady really had been really busy, honestly. He‘d been pretty good at letting people know he was still alive, at least. When they finally pulled away, Brady held a hand on Max’s shoulder for maybe a moment too long before dropping it. “Nah. Had my fill of pasta and pastries and shit.” Except not at all. He’d go back in a second just for the food. “Just wanted to surprise you with my beautiful face.” Brady lifted the hand he’d just dropped to reach out and push Max’s shoulder. “Miss me, Maxy?” he asked with a wink, because of course Brady knew Max has missed him calling him that. He bent down to pick up his backpack again. “Gonna go put this in my room then you can tell me all about what a shitty life you’ve had without me.”

"With a name like that, I don't doubt it." The typical Brady comments didn't change the bright expression Max wore. While things with Brady had been a little awkward before he left, all it took was the absence of his presence for Max to realize just how quiet things had been without him. Things just hadn't been the same. It was the longest they'd probably been apart since they met, and that definitely hadn't been lost on him over the past few months. Brady being Brady just made him feel how much he'd missed him all over again, and all at once. "Well you got me. I'm surprised." He admitted with a nod of his head, glancing down briefly at the dogs. They were as happy to see him as he was. "Miss you, though?" He rolled his eyes in humor, knocking his own palm against Brady's shoulder. "C'mon. Didn't even notice you were gone until last week." That was...the biggest lie and furthest from the truth as he could get. As Brady picked up his backpack and began to head to his room, Max's eyes fell onto his back, and his gaze softened. "Yeah, whatever, man. Go do what you need to do. I'll be around." He didn't bother to stop the dogs from gluing themselves to Brady. He guessed he couldn't blame them. "You hungry? Arlo's supposed to be bringing food. I can let her know to get extra."

“Ouch.” He knew he was kidding, mostly because Brady himself had spent a good portion of his time away thinking about seeing Max again. And all his other friends. But...yeah. He headed to his room, taking a second to look around and note how nothing had changed, which he’d expected, because it wasn’t like his roommates were gonna go rooting through his shit while he was gone or anything. But still. It felt good to be back. He tossed his bag onto his bed before going back to rejoin Max in the other room. “Uh, nah. I’m fine,” he decided. He’d eaten right after landing. Not like Brady was never not hungry, but he decided he could do without giving Arlo any extra shit for now. “Arlo didn’t get sick of you yet?” He figured she was only able to stay in the apartment because she had both Brady and Max as a buffer for the other one. God bless her. He’d missed her. Brady threw himself down on the couch with a sigh, sprawling out across the whole thing. Good to be home. “So you get yourself a new permanent editor or what?” he asked lightly, though he was genuinely wondering how things had been in his absence. Brady watched him for a second and then got more serious. “What have you been up to?”

Max headed to their fridge while Brady dropped his stuff off in his room, grabbing two waters as he listened to him speak, lips still curled into a light smile. The apartment hadn’t been completely dead. It had been him and Arlo and the dogs. Yet somehow hearing the familiar shuffling of Brady in his room caused an odd pang in his chest. If he didn’t think about it, it was like nothing had changed despite how long it’d been. “Please. She loves me. She could never get sick of this face.” He approached Brady, now sprawled on the couch in his old usual position, and tossed a bottle to him. He plopped himself down in a chair by the couch, making himself comfortable. “I dunno. I really like Grady O’Hare. Does a good job. Puts up with my ideas and gets my good angles.” Maybe Grady wasn’t really his name. Still, the guy standing in for Brady was pretty cool. But... “But he’s no replacement for Brady St. Clair. He’s a good stand in when you’re doing your big timey camera man stuff. But maybe I miss you threatening to quit every five minutes.” Max twisted the top of his water off as he talked. “We can talk about work stuff later, dude. I’ve been up to a lot of different things, I guess.” Max lifted one of his shoulders into a shrug as he lifted the water to his lips to take a quick swig. “Kind of a loaded, boring question when you went to frigging Europe. C’mon, man. What did you do? How did your thing go?”

It was weird hearing about someone else handling Max’s videography. Brady knew it was necessary, what with him not being there and all, but he was just so used to he and Max being a team. Needless to say, he was glad it was going to be him again. “Dope.” He was going to have to catch up on the videos he’d missed so his arrogant ass could nitpick every little thing. “Y’know, I wouldn’t threaten to quit if you weren’t such a pain in my ass.” Lovingly. “The fuck do you think I was doing in Europe?” Brady asked, raising an eyebrow. “I was fucking working too, bro.” He knew what Max meant, though. Different setting, different stuff. He sat up just slightly to take a sip of water before lying back again. “Things,” he corrected. He hadn’t gone all the way there for just one little thing. “The short film thing took up most of it. Got a music video in there. Some live music footage and shit like that.” He shrugged. He knew it was a bigger deal than he was making it, but Brady didn’t want to just sit there and brag to Max’s face. “It was cool. Lotta people are gonna see that shit, you know? Like a major foot in the door.” Not that working with Max hadn’t done wonders for him, but this was a different type of thing. “So we’ll see how it all pans out, I guess. Good to be home, though.” He took a deep breath. “But I wanna hear about your shit.”

Max and Brady both knew fully well just how big of a part Brady played in the channel. Without him there probably wouldn’t have even been one. So it was only natural that, for as long as Brady wanted to be part of it with him, he would be. Max knew how important branching out to other things was for him, though. Beyond everything, he was happy he was doing so well for himself. Didn’t mean he’d missed him being around any less, though. “But you haven’t yet. What’s that say about you?” He teased, leaning forward in the chair a bit. “I’d say you liked me bein’ a pain in your ass. If I didn’t know better.” The glint in his eyes was playful, and maybe a bit of something else he tampered down ‘cause maybe it was too soon to go down that road with him again. “Yeah, yeah. I know you were working, bro. Doesn’t mean you can’t have fun, too. Going to Europe’s a big deal.” But of course Brady was trying to make it seem not that cool. He hated it when he played off the good things he did. But that was Brady for you, and Max was mostly used to it by now. Meaning he’d ignore him and make a big deal about it anyway. Because it was a big deal.

“That’s awesome, man. I’m proud of you, you know? That’s a really big step.” Max said, and he truly meant it. “I can’t wait to see it, when it comes out. You’ll have to show me the music stuff sometime too. And you’ve had to have taken pictures while you were over there, too.” He paused, shaking his head. “I’m doing lots of different things, I guess. I’m… thinking about taking the channel in a slightly different direction, I think. I’ve been kind of looking for people first starting out, to show them the ropes.” He started thoughtfully. “Like Puck did for me. But not Team 10 shit ---” He held out his pointer finger, stopping the smartass comment before it came. “Just think it’d be cool to grow the channel. Help people out. I dunno. Still do what I’m doing, but make more of a network. I haven’t gotten too deep into it yet. Wanted to flesh it out first. And you know, talk about it with you first.” Max shrugged, finding it weird to say out loud when the idea was still so new in his own head. He still felt like a baby in comparison to other creators. It was weird thinking of himself as someone who could potentially have influence in helping others get to where he was at. “But other than that… I’ve been looking into maybe finding the band another gig. For fun. Maybe you could help with all that fancy Europe music video experience you have now.” He raised his eyebrows. “But it’s been pretty chill here. Ate a lot of lunchables without you here to take them all and got to catch up on all the Netflix shows I can’t watch when you’re distractin’ me.” He smiled, again, this time playful. His fingers toyed with the paper on his bottle, fraying the edges. “Might have missed you just a little bit, though.”

“I dunno what that says about me.” Except he kinda did, but it wasn’t like Brady was going to say that now. Besides, Max knew too. He made that pretty clear. “I didn’t say I didn’t have fun. Can’t tell you how much fucking pasta I ate. Felt like I could barely even breathe some nights.” And if that didn’t count as fun, Brady didn’t know what did. “Mostly filming though. That’s fun for me too, you know.” Really, it was. Work was work, but it was also Brady’s passion or whatever. So lord knew he loved it. “Yeah, I got pictures.” He shrugged. “Drew a little bit too. Tons of inspiration and shit over there.” Especially when he had alone time in the middle of the day. Max was one of the only people Brady actually liked to let scroll through the art on his tablet. So he’d have to pull it out later, when he wasn’t so lazy.

He listened as Max talked about the direction of his channel, and honestly, Brady couldn’t say he was surprised. It seemed like the natural progression of things, after all. “You don’t really have to talk to me about it,” Brady argued, shaking his head. “S’your stuff. I’m along for the ride.” He’d go with whatever Max thought was best. Brady would only speak up if he thought Max was going a little too far. “Yeah?” Brady shrugged. “Guess I could. Still don’t really know how most of that shit goes, but. If you want me to.” He didn’t want to intrude or whatever. “Fuck off. You eat all the good ones before I get to them anyway.” God forbid Brady get some shitty fucking nachos every once in a while. Brady looked down as Max said he missed him, and it kind of hung in the air for a moment because Brady knew it sorta meant a little more. He wasn’t really sure when all that would come up again. And maybe now wasn’t the best time. “Yeah,” he said simply. “Me too.” There was another few moments of quiet before Brady sighed, sitting up a bit. “But it’s chill. I’m back now. Don’t have to get all sappy on me anymore,” he teased, breaking out the signature smirk for good measure. “You wanna like, watch something? Maybe play a game or whatever?”

“I know it is, y’nerd.” Max said, not bothering to try to hide the affection in his tone. He liked that Brady got so into his projects, no matter what it was. Sometimes he wished he had that kind of focus, to be happy with just one thing and know exactly how to keep honing that. He was glad he got to do that, and eat to his hearts content, of course. “Yeah? You better show me those too. Can’t be holding out on me, Bradford. You were really living the artists dream over there, huh?” Max shook his head briefly. He knew he didn’t have to run things by Brady; he was always chill about it. But that didn’t change the fact that he wanted to. His opinion always did matter to him. “You’re still a part of it, though. Not gonna have you come back to a whole different channel. Who do you think I am? I’m not popular enough to pull that kinda power move.” That last part was a joke, amplified by the raise of his eyebrows. “Of course I want you to.” Brady had essentially been his creative partner since he met him. He’d take him on in all of his projects if he could. “If you’re not too busy, I mean. I know you’ve got a lot going on already.” The last thing he wanted was to weigh him down with more things. “What do you mean the good ones? They’re all the good ones. Didn’t know you were over here playing favorites.” The teasing atmosphere slowly tapered off at the admissions, and Max felt a familiar stirring in his chest. God. He had missed him. “Yeah, sure. We can do that.” He said after a moment, words accompanied by a small nod of his head. “You’re the one who just got off a plane. Your choice. But if you’re too tired to get all competitive with me, we can watch something?”

“I don’t have to show you shit.” But they both knew he would. In fact... he did have something to show him. He wasn’t sure if he should bring it up right this second, though. “Yeah, well. You know I’d figure it out.” Not like Brady had super strong opinions about all that. He was just trying to go with the flow here. But he knew what Max meant. “Nah, I mean. I will.” Brady shrugged. “Just lemme know what’s going on.” He shook his head. Of course there were good ones. “Everybody has favorites. You’re lying if you try to tell me you don’t.” Brady thought about what he wanted to do for a moment. Max had a point; he wasn’t sure if he totally had the energy to kick Max’s ass right now. He hated picking what to watch, though. “I dunno,” he mumbled, then paused and sat up. “Just. Put on the TV. I’m gonna go get somethin’ first.” He pushed himself up off the couch and dropped the water on the table before heading back to his bedroom. Fuck it, he’d give him the damn thing now. Brady sifted through his stuff until he found the red folder he was looking for. He carried it back out into the other room and tossed it at Max, then slumped back down on the couch. “Happy belated birthday, Cameron.”

Okay, so maybe Max preferred the pizza ones. He at least tried to save one for Brady. He wasn’t completely unreasonable. “Okay,” he said in slight curiosity as Brady got up again. But since he just got home, he didn’t question him. He was probably gonna grab his stuff to smoke, or at least Max thought. After getting up to grab the remote to flick on the TV, he brought up Netflix to turn on a movie he thought sounded like something they’d like. He settled back down on the couch this time, allowing Brady enough room to stretch out once he came back. As the folder was tossed to him, he looked at Brady in surprise. “Hey — you didn’t have to do anything,” he said instinctively. The thing you have to say when someone goes out of their way to think of you. But he peered down at the folder anyway, half grinning at the folder. He had no clue what it was until he opened it to look, and immediately he understood.

“Brady.” His fingers moved to trace the outline of the figure before he carefully drew his hand back, afraid he might smudge it. “You drew Ratthew?” It was poised as a question, but it was more of a statement. Warmth was clear in his tone, and maybe it wasn’t something normal people would feel touched over. But he was. Max always liked Brady’s drawings, but the fact that he’d drawn his rat for his Birthday while he was undoubtedly busy enough as it was meant a lot to him. The familiar affection he shouldn’t be surprised he still felt was back in full force. And without thinking, he carefully moved the drawing to the table before turning to Brady on the couch. He knew he’d probably hate him for it, but he reached an arm out to hook around his shoulder as he brought him closer. Lifting himself up slightly, he stretched himself to smack a kiss on the side of his head. The sound was obnoxious just as the action was maybe meant to be; an over the top show of affection that Max was known for. But he didn’t stop to think maybe it’d be even weirder for him to do that now. But spirits were high, and he couldn’t have gotten him a better gift. “Thank you,” he said as he let himself fall back down, still grinning like an idiot. His gaze cut back to the paper resting in front of them. He wanted to look at it some more, but didn’t want it to get all crumpled. “I freaking love it. And just wait ‘till Ratthew sees it,” he joked. “You made him look so good. Gonna give him an even bigger head than he already has.” He was definitely going to put that up in his room. “You should go say hi to him when you have the chance. He might be even more excited to see you than I was.”

Almost instinctively, Brady shoved Max away when he kissed his head. Fucking Max. That was just how he was, and Brady was grinning even as he pushed him back, but he was simultaneously trying to ignore the feeling in his chest. It brought back things he’d worked not to think about while he was away. But again, not the time. “Yeah. Welcome,” he muttered. He was really glad that he liked it. He figured he would, which was why he did it in the first place, but he’d for some reason been a little worried that it wouldn’t be enough or something. Not that Max expected anything but he deserved it. “Couldn’t get the little bastard out of my head, I guess.” He’d always been cool with that freaking rat. “No one said you could show him, though. That’s a Brady Clarington original. Not for just anyone’s eyes, even the subject.” He did like the idea of Max wanting to show it off, though. Even if he was just talking about his fucking rat. “I will. Later. Trying to focus on this true crime doc I’ve already seen,” he teased, narrowing his eyes in mock concentration at the TV. It wasn’t like Max would have known, since Brady had been gone. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t still going to mess with him. “Plus, think I’ve had my Evans fill for now.” So the others were all going to have to wait. “We have anything to drink? Like, wine maybe?” He paused. “D’you know I drink wine now? I’m a classy bitch. S’what happens when you travel and become cultured as fuck,” he said with a shrug. He also made no moves to get up, implying he would love for his best friend to go ahead and deliver him a drink.

“Is there anything you haven’t seen? It’d help to get a list. I can’t read minds, y’know.” He reached a hand out to tap a single finger against Brady’s temple. “Not when they’ve been overseas for the last few months.” He said lightly, but made no moves to change it just yet. At his question, Max looked at him blankly for a moment. “Yeah, water.” he said slowly, eyes flicking to the bottle he’d already brought Brady. But then he got the hint. “I didn’t know that.” There was probably a lot of things he didn’t know now, but before he could get sad about it, Max’s nose crinkled in humor. Brady now liking it and showing his inner bougie kid was kind of endearing. He wouldn’t tell him that though. “No, Mom. I think I might be fresh out,” he teased. “Unless Arlo has some around here. But we do have grape juice and some leftover fireball from your Birthday. No ones touched the stuff since you left.” Mostly because everyone had gotten sick of it at his party. “You wanna mix it and see what we get?” That was a genuine offer. He scooter to the end of the couch, set to get up and get the stuff since he knew where it was. Even if he didn’t want to move ‘cause he was still sort of waking up. Still, he grinned as he did, because it felt like old times again so quickly. “It’s the best I can offer on short notice.”

"What the fuck ever, man. You're just mad you're still drinking Four Lokos like a fifteen year old." Maybe shouldn't have gone there, but it didn't have to be weird if he didn't let it get weird. "I'd hope no one's touched it since it isn't fucking theirs," Brady said, giving him a pointed look. In reality, he didn't give a fuck, and knew Max knew that. Although his face contorted at the idea and he wanted to say it sounded disgusting... he'd tried worse. "Think I mixed it with Kool Aid once," he recalled. And it'd been pretty awful, if he also recalled, but then, he'd also drank the whole damn thing. "Sure, whatever." He waited on the couch, mindlessly rewatching the weird doc until Max came back with the bottles and plastic cups. At which point, he finally sat up. "Sick." He reached for the Fireball, which he apparently hadn't totally grown out of even with his European adventures under his belt. He unscrewed the cap and took a small sip, as if to remind himself what it tasted like or some stupid shit. "Gonna be fucking nasty," he decided to say after all. He picked up one of the cups and poured a good amount of the whisky in, then handed it to Max so he could add some of the juice to his cup. It looked awful, and Brady could smell the extremely different but equally strong smells mingling as he swirled it around in the cup. "Fuck, man. Fuck it, right?" That tended to be their motto. He shrugged and held up his cup toward Max. "Cheers."

“Yeah, wasn’t the only one, buddy.” He replied quickly, before falling silent, but only for a second. It was weird to mention things that happened between them before. Time apart had given perspective, but it was still too soon to bring it up any further than they had. Soon, Max stood up to retrieve the items they needed to make what could possibly be either the worlds best or worlds worst drink. He set all the stuff down in front of them before sitting back down next to him. “I mean, yeah, why not,” he agreed. That was pretty much his philosophy. After pouring some of the grape juice in Brady’s cup, adding more than he normally would have to dilute any possible bad tastes, he set the bottle down to watch Brady closely. He held off on making his own just yet. “Cheers. Drink it fast so you’re not attacked by all the fireball. Don’t want you to die.” But his advice probably wasn’t needed. Normally he’d try it with him, but it was honestly more fun to see how he’d react right now. “Well?” He asked, waiting for the verdict, but got too curious. Max wiggled his fingers as he held his hand out, motioning for him to hand it to him and risking him telling him to make his damn own. But why waste it, honestly. “Here, lemme try yours.”

After taking a swig, Brady decided that it wasn’t that bad, all things considered. Like, it was bad, and not anything anyone could really consider a legit drink. But it wasn’t spit it back out and probably vomit bad. “It’s fucking grape juice and Fireball,” Brady said simply, far less impressed with the aftertaste than anything else. He licked his lips as he passed it over to Max, wondering why he didn’t just get his own damn cup, but Brady wasn’t here to make a big deal out of it. “Not really what I was going for. But guess it’ll have to do.” The travel day was fuckin’ rough. He was pretty sure he’d drink just about anything at this point. He leaned back on the couch, going for the water to wash the remnants of cinnamon grape juice out of his mouth. “Bet you wish you had wine now, huh?”

It was Max's idea, but did he think it sounded amazing? Hell no. However, he wasn't one to back away from trying new things, especially when it was his own damn fault. Still, he wasn't gonna make himself a big cup full of it yet. He'd let Brady do that. He took the cup and brought it to his lips, letting the taste of grape cinnamon-y alcohol burn his throat. He coughed as he handed it back, quietly as he turned his head to the side to let it pass. "It's not the worst thing I've ever had. I've tried worse tasting Four Loko's." He turned back to grin at him, but didn't give him back his cup. "I'll take this if you don't want it. I can handle it." It honestly wasn't horrible. It was just... a lot. And if Brady wanted to drink, he might as well join him. "Just take a plain ass shot of fireball, then." He stretched out to grab the bottle in his hand, sliding it to sit in front of Brady. "I don't know. Wine is equally as strong. I'm not all cultured like you now, you know." Max said dryly, though the amusement was clear. "What do you want me to do, go out and get you some for comin' home?"

“True.” It wasn’t like there weren’t some god awful mixed drinks Brady and his friends in high school would fuck around with. It should have been surprising that he and Max didn’t quite seem to be past that yet, but he’d long since gotten over the idea of anything being surprising with them. “That was the plan,” he agreed, pulling the bottle closer toward him. He didn’t quite need one yet, but he would soon. “Yeah, well, maybe you need to start building up your tolerance, then.” He did wince at some of the wine he’d tasted, but he couldn’t say that and shatter his new very cultured image. “Um, yeah? The fuck. I don’t see any welcome home gifts. It’s like you didn’t even miss me at all.” He nudged Max with his foot, not a full kick, but enough that he’d feel Brady’s obvious and totally real disappointment. “Don’t worry about it, I’ll get my own. But don’t expect me to share.” Though they both knew he would. “Reminds me, though. The weed situation was wild over there. Like, super illegal depending where you are but no one really cares.” Which he knew was pretty much the same around here at some point, but still. He shrugged. “I found my people, though. You know me. I’d have brought you back some but turns out there’s nothin’ fancy about French weed.“ Unfortunately. He turned away from the TV to look at Max. “Hope you’ll forgive me.”

Max shot him an unimpressed look as he kicked him with his foot. "Bradford, please. I am the gift. I could have just gone back to my room when you got here, you know." Yeah, right. Like he could ever pretend to be that unaffected by his best friends presence. "First you won't share your future wine, then you didn't bring me back any of your French weed. Starting to see your true colors now." But it was spoken fondly, because of course Brady would find his people over there. Max wasn't sure just how illegal that sort of thing was in Europe, but he was glad that Brady had found people he trusted. He just wanted him to be safe. But it wouldn't be Brady without him trying out all the weed they had to offer. "I dunno. I'll have to think about it. That's pretty messed up." He teased. "You might have to go back to all your new European friends." Obviously it was a joke. The thought of him leaving again caused his chest to grow heavy; he ignored it. "Would they sit here and drink grape fireball with you?"

“Yeah, well. That’s what happens when you wanna disrespect me like this.” The dramatics never seemed to falter between them. One would think Max had changed the locks and tossed out Brady’s stuff the way he acted like he was being treated. Max was right that his “friends” in Europe wouldn’t do this type of thing with him, especially considering Max was like the only person he knew who’d suggest anything like that in the first place. Besides, it wasn’t like Brady had been there long enough to form any lasting bonds. As if he was the type of person to easily form any type of bond in the first place. “No,” he said after a moment. “They wouldn’t.” It was hard to find people like Max in the world. Brady just didn’t realize how hard until he met all these interesting people in other places and felt like there was something missing from every single one of them. “Think I’ll stick around here for a while,” he said nonchalantly, shaking that shit out of his head once again. “Feel bad leaving Draco again.” Which was also true. Just not all of the reason. After another short pause Brady sighed and forced his lazy ass to sit up again. “Okay, I have to put something else on. You’re not even watching this fuckin’ thing.” He picked up the remote so he could go back to the Netflix menu. “You catch up on You without me? Or were you a good friend for once?”

Max fell quiet for a moment; smile softening up more than he meant for it to. He’d just been joking with him, but now he was just reminded of how weird things had been without him around. It had been good for Brady. Max knew that, but at the same time, having him back made his chest feel warm again. “I was good. Didn’t even watch the trailer,” Max rolled his eyes and leaned back into the couch, hand still wrapped around the gross drink that was admittedly all his idea. He lifted it to his lips, taking another sip. The fireball burned his lips, thankfully masking the strong taste of the grape juice. “Almost got spoiled a thousand times, though. And it would have been all your fault. Just so you know.” Since Max was waiting for him and everything. Soon, Brady had pulled up the show, and they finally fell silent as Joe Goldberg’s voiceover sounded throughout the room.

#CANON #welcome home brady #current verse #013

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braxarchives · 3 years

Text

The Talk ― CANON. (current verse)

Max attempts to move on, which leads to Brady coming to the realization that opening up is better than hiding in the dark. Facts about his upbringing come to light, and a truly honest conversation is finally had.

Headcanons following the events of 011: Things between Brady and Max had cooled down some following the extra ass hookup on Brady’s birthday. Now emotionally in a slightly better place and realizing that he doesn’t want to keep sabotaging their friendship, Max has begun to pull back - and started to casually see someone else in the process.

------

Brady, sprawled out on the couch high out of his mind? Totally unheard of. Okay. So it wasn’t, at all, not even a little bit. But what was a bit different was how he felt. Which was... sad. He couldn’t really put it any other way. He’d already gone through feeling pissed off and disgusted and a multitude of other things, mostly toward himself but which he attempted to project onto his thoughts about Max. And now he was just sad. He knew he fucked up; he’d known it for months now, since he first let Max kiss him and then let things progress for months and eventually put a stop to it because he couldn’t get past his own shit. But he supposed it didn’t actually hit him just how much it fucking sucked until recently, when he realized Max was seeing someone else.

Well, Brady didn’t actually know what was going on, exactly. They couldn’t really talk about that shit, not fully, not like they used to. But he knew his best friend and the way Max was acting told Brady all he needed to know. He’d found out about the girl and since then, Max was out a lot more on random nights (much like this one, though to be fair, Brady hadn’t asked where he was going), and Brady could put two and two together. He just didn’t want to. And that was what led him to lie back on the couch, taking a long hit of the joint in his hand as he screwed his eyes shut tightly, willing himself to stop imagining Max with somebody else, and to ignore how fucking awful it made him feel. It was impossible to ignore it, though. It was all he’d been thinking about for weeks now. Brady wanted him. He had for way too fucking long and he needed to stop getting in his own way. Although he knew he couldn’t just step up now and think Max owed him shit; he didn’t think that. But he owed a whole lot to Max, not the least of which being honesty. When Max got home, Brady stayed where he was. His body felt heavy despite the way his heart rate picked up when he heard Max come in. Brady was so done being a coward. He was hiding behind his past, the one Max knew next to nothing about and that wasn’t at all fair to him. Brady had to just man up and get real. Otherwise nothing was ever going to change. “Max,” Brady muttered, still staying where he was and staring up at the ceiling. “Hey. C’mere for a sec.” After what felt like an eternity, Brady pushed himself to sit up. He couldn’t quite look him in the eye yet, though. “Wanna tell you somethin’.” Before he continued, Brady reached over to offer him the joint.

The party wasn’t nearly as fun as Max had hoped it’d be. There were few people he actually knew or recognized. There were barely any drinks or weed or even some damn chips. The only real bright side to it was Calia, who’d for some reason been hanging out with him for the past couple of weeks. She was freaking gorgeous, and confident, and made him laugh. He really didn’t know that much about her, truthfully, but being around her had just been fun. And it was nice to get outside of his own head and bullshit around for awhile. He realized he’d been in his own feelings a little too much lately, and wasn’t acting enough like his normal self, like maybe everyone was used to. So he’d been going out more, meeting new people. And just a few short weeks ago, he’d met her.

Tonight, they both had found their own spot away from everybody else, out on the balcony. She'd tried to teach him a bunch of different things in ASL that he probably did wrong, or were probably definitely not the words she was telling him they were. But she'd laughed and kissed him anyway, so he figured it didn’t really matter all that much. But the night was cut short; she had to be back home for whatever reason and he hadn’t cared much about sticking around to try to entertain himself tonight anyway. So he found himself back at his apartment, stepping in through the door, and the first thing he noticed was the familiar smell of weed wafting throughout the air and assaulting his senses head on. Brady. Sure enough, his friend was there, stretched out on their couch like a really big ass cat. Max nodded to him, the half smile that always seemed to cross his face at these moments appearing yet again. He tucked his keys back in his jacket pocket and nodded over at him. “Wassup, man.” He said in greeting, noting the way his friend seemed to be glued to the cushions. And suddenly he felt a familiar little tug of...something. Max wished Brady had gone to the party, too. They always used to do shit together. And Max had always had the most fun when he was around. They’d been good lately, despite everything, but they still haven’t completely gotten back to the way they used to be. Max was partly to blame for that, because maybe he was still feeling things that made it awkward to treat him like just his best friend. But it still made him sad. He just missed him. He couldn’t really help it.

Max let his thoughts drift absentmindedly as he neared the couch, eyeing him curiously as he outstretched his hand to take what was offered to him. "Yeah? Everything okay?" He let himself fall onto the cushions beside Brady, examining the joint before raising it to his lips. He paused as he took a hit, letting the smoke fill his lungs before slowly letting it billow from his lips. He wordlessly handed it back to Brady before turning his full attention to him. ”Didn’t let Ratthew out of his cage again, did you?” He nudged Brady’s shoulder with his own. “Told you last time I’d kick your ass.”

Still staring ahead at nothing in particular, Brady took the joint back and simply held it for a moment, unsure of what to say. Max was goofing around with him like normal and Brady appreciated that, but he just couldn’t bring himself to say anything like that back. “I want to, um.” He stopped. He’d probably never had this conversation with fucking anybody before, because it hadn’t mattered so much in the past. Only one girlfriend he’d ever had actually mattered enough to him for him to introduce her to his family, but that hadn’t been anything like this at all. She was a girl, after all. “I never really told you ‘bout my parents. Like... at all.” It wasn’t like Brady didn’t ever mention them, and it wasn’t a secret that they didn’t have a stellar relationship. But he had never expanded upon that, had never explained why that was. Taking another hit, he still wasn’t sure if he was ready to, but then maybe he no longer had a fucking choice.

Brady put out the joint, because although he still wanted to hold it he knew he’d be better off if he just saved the rest of it for after they were done here. “You know about like, all the military shit.” Where his father, and his father’ father, and his father’s father’s father’s uncle’s stepson’s brother and whoever the fuck else had been; where they’d wanted Hunter to be, but had given up on Brady. “But that’s not the only reason the Colonel was kind of a dick. Is kind of a dick.” Brady shrugged. “Always just kinda wondered if he even wanted kids. ‘Cause it was like he didn’t wanna be an actual dad, he wanted to be a military leader again. So if he did want kids he really coulda fooled me.” Brady shifted uncomfortably where he sat. His trust for Max was the only reason he could manage to get through this so he just had to do that. “My mom is better but they’re both conservative as fuck, and traditional. We weren’t really allowed to have our own beliefs growing up which was super fucked. And even though we’re older they still don’t like to hear when things are different from how they taught us. Or... how they thought they did,” he muttered.

“But my dad, he—“ Brady stopped just to mess with the joint in his hand and take a breath. “God, he always made me feel like I was never fuckin’ good enough, you know? No matter what I did. He never told me he loved me or that he was proud of me or any of that shit you’re supposed to hear from your own fuckin’ parents. Then when I got older every day it was about how selfish and irresponsible I am and why can’t I be more like Hunter or just get my act together and be serious for once.” He didn’t know where he was going, but now that he’d started talking about it, he couldn’t quite hold back. “My whole life I was just trying to be this perfect little adult and couldn’t get it right. So I never learned how to take care of people. Just how to manage how shitty some people can make you feel, and how to have fun even when there’s someone in the world who just doesn’t fucking want you to.”

For the first time he managed to look at Max’s face. “I’m a whole fucking mess, dude. A mess I didn’t wanna drag you into. We were fine when we were just friends because I knew I couldn’t hurt you. But now we’re not that anymore and...I already hurt you so who knows what the fuck I’d manage to screw up if we—“ Brady trailed off and looked back down at his lap. “Whatever. My dad just made me feel like I can’t handle anything like that. Being the right person for someone when apparently I’m not even who I’m supposed to be.” He shook his head. He knew it was all bullshit, that the Colonel was projecting some crazy ideas of who he thought Brady should be onto him and that he couldn’t force it. But it was hard not to let it get to him. All he’d heard all his life, from his own father. “Sure you’ve noticed my relationships have never actually...been relationships.” Because he always pushed and ran away. “I don’t know how to do that. And I didn’t want you to be where I tried and inevitably fucked up.”

Max caught on pretty quickly to the fact that this wasn’t a normal situation. Normally Brady joked back instantly; played along with whatever bullshit he said. This time, though, he was just sitting there quietly. It sent warning bells off in Max’s mind, concern settling in at the idea that something might be wrong. He was immediately on high-alert when he began to talk about his parents. Brady so rarely talked about his family; not like this. So he stayed silent at first and just let him get out whatever was on his mind. “Ah. Man. I’m so sorry,” he said quietly, not knowing what else to say at first. He just drew one leg onto the couch, folding it so he could turn his body sideways to face him. There were things Brady had mentioned before, offhand, that led him to believe that his family was on the stricter side. He never delved deeper than that, and Max never pushed his boundaries. Now that he was finally talking about it, though, it was clear how tense things really were with his Dad. His chest hurt at Brady being so seemingly vulnerable. He wasn't like this often, if ever. And a big part of him was glad he trusted him, even now, to talk about it. “That’s a lot of pressure to put on just a kid. And on you now. You deserve to live your own life, Brady. You’re not wrong for wanting that.” And he really hoped he knew that. Max studied him carefully, trying to understand what he was trying to tell him by gauging the look on his face. Max’s parents were the exact opposite of what his friend was describing. He could only imagine what it was like to have parents who expected you to be one way. It was no wonder why it was effecting him so much right now. They were his family. They were supposed to be the people who supported you the most.

A certain protectiveness swelled in his chest as Brady went on. He wished things had been different for him, or that his parents would ease up on him now. The way he fidgeted made him want to reach out and still his hands with his own, but he didn’t. Max knew he probably needed to just say what he needed to say. “Have y’ever talked to him? About all of this?” He asked, gently, not knowing if that was a dumb question or not. He’d always been free to voice shit to his parents, if something was bothering him. But Brady didn’t seem to have that same luxury. ”Does he not listen at all?” Max wished he could be more help, and he wasn’t even sure what brought this all anyway. But he supposed it didn’t matter. If he needed to talk to him he’d listen. “Hey, Brady. Dude. We’re fine.” He emphasized quietly as he looked at him in earnest. “Yeah. I’ve been hurt, but not because you really did anything wrong. We’re still friends; not like I’m going anywhere. I haven’t gone anywhere for three years. I live with you, dude. I let you eat the last of my cereal. I trust you with all my social media passwords. I don’t even flinch when you’re a dick. And you have been a dick sometimes.” He almost wanted to smile, but it wasn’t the time or place. “But so have I. You’re my best friend, Brady. If you’re a mess, I’m a damn mess too. So you have shit going on with your family. Hard shit.” He held his gaze for a moment, trying to silently let him know that he understood. “That doesn’t make you a screw up. Just means you're in a bad situation.” He reached out, then, to place a careful hand on his arm as his friend looked at him. Max tried not to read too much into what he was saying; tried not to let the warmth spread through his chest as Brady tried to explain. But he couldn’t just ignore it completely.

“Listen. You don’t have’ta be anything. Not with...me. Or anyone else. No ones saying you have to change who you are just to make someone happy. I didn’t want that.” It felt weird to talk about what had happened with them now; after everything. But it was time that things needed to be said. Since Brady was being honest with him, he'd do the same. "I just wanted you." He willed himself to talk steady so Brady understood him. This wasn't about him right now, or how he felt. It was about Brady. "You're not a fuck up. Everyone who fucking knows you knows that. You're one of the best people I've ever met. And nothing you could do would make me think any different. Just wish you believed it." He let his hand drop between them, but didn't look away from him. "And if your Dad doesn't see that then he's fuckin' missing out, man."

“Talk to him and say what?” Brady knew Max was just trying to be helpful, and he appreciated it. It was just hard not to be on the defense during a conversation like this. Brady shook his head slowly. “It’s not like what you have, man. He doesn’t wanna hear me out. Doesn’t matter what I say. I’m wrong.” The thing was, he and his dad were able to have decent talks sometimes, that Brady even enjoyed here and there. But at the end of the day, he had to be so careful about what they talked about and what he said. He wouldn’t exactly call that great conversation. Even this, just talking about all that shit and how it affected Brady was hard. Max was reassuring as always and Brady swallowed despite the lump in his throat. He was wrong that he’d been a dick; he hadn’t done anything wrong. It was Brady who fucked with him unfairly. “You’re not, though,” Brady argued. It wasn’t that he didn’t think Max had his own shit to deal with, but Christ, he was such a good guy. He knew what to say and do and he deserved someone who could give that back to him. Someone he could remind that they weren’t a screw up and have them actually believe him because that sure wasn’t Brady. At least he didn’t flinch away from Max’s touch.

“Max, bro, it’s... not that simple.” He wished it was. If all he had to get through was figuring out how to do things right, this whole thing might not have been so messed up. But of course that wasn’t it. “It’s not just about that stuff.” Brady paused and sighed. “Look. I was like, I dunno, fourteen or something when I realized just how fucked up things were. My brother, he started seeing this dude seriously. Living together and shit, found out later on they were gonna get married and all that. But they didn’t. And a lot of it had to do with our parents.” The air around them felt heavy. When Brady wasn’t speaking the silence was deafening. So he kept going. “You shoulda heard the shit my dad would say. My mom, she just refused to call him Hunter’s boyfriend. Said his friend would be coming for Thanksgiving or whatever. But my dad wasn’t that subtle. Made goddamn sure I knew how he felt. It was unnatural. A sin. God, such fucking bullshit.” Repeating it all made Brady’s blood boil. He hated that it had to be a thing. And he especially hated now looking into Max’s eyes as he recounted it. “Couldn’t exactly come out to them after that. Or anyone,” he explained, his voice and everything else about him feeling incredibly small at the moment. “And I couldn’t... I couldn’t do that to you.” The sadness returned, replacing the brief anger he felt, and Brady had to look away from him again. “I don’t know if my parents are ever gonna know who I really am because I just can’t fuckin’ stand the idea of being even less to them.” His eyes stung and Jesus fuck, there was no goddamn way he was going to cry. “You wanted me but you didn’t ask to play this stupid game with me. And I don’t want you to have to.”

It didn’t quite click in Max’s head until Brady delved deeper into the issue, and suddenly everything made sense. Max hadn’t even known Brady was into guys as well until recently, and he always figured he had his reasons for keeping it to himself. Part of him just always thought it was how he was; a private person. He never quite put two and two together that his Dad might be the reason for it, and it made him nauseous that Brady had to deal with it. Max was lucky that his own parents accepted him, but he was well aware that there were families that weren’t like that. He just never thought, or wanted to think, that his best friend came from one of them.

“That’s not something anyone should go through. Not you, or your brother. I know they’re your family, but... Brady. There’s nothing wrong with you.” He spoke quietly, though his words were adamant. “You care about them.” Of course he did. They were his parents. “You want them to accept you. I’m not gonna sit here and tell you you’re wrong for feelin’ the way you do.” Max had dealt with those types of people before. When he was a freshman in High School, he’d react to the names and the comments and the looks. He’d argue back, just as emphatically as some of the comments, which sometimes resulted in bruises he’d struggled to hide from his family. But the difference was, even after dealing with all that shit, he could come back home to people who did accept him. Who loved him. Now everything else didn’t get to him anymore, or at least not quite as much or as often. Because he knew at the end of the day he’d be okay. His gut twisted at the realization that Brady didn’t have that at all. “It’s your family and it’s your life, and no wonder you don’t want to tell them. I wouldn’t either.” Honestly. “But it's not good to not feel like you can be yourself. Even if you’re not ready to tell them.” After hearing that Max wasn’t sure when anyone could possibly be ready for that encounter. “I never meant to... make it seem like I wanted you to immediately... I don’t know. Come out or something.” Max swallowed. “I know I can be a lot, man. But I never expected you to be. You've always been different than me." Max was always the one to be in front of the camera; Brady was more behind the scenes. Quieter. Less abrasive. He always admired that about him. He never knew some of that might because he was scared to show certain sides of himself.

"I just knew I was into you.” He paused, his heart thumping hard in his chest. "Am into you. It’s not a game. I can't even begin to imagine what it's like for you. But I'm...fuckin' here, man. You say you don't want me to have to be in it. But what if I want to be?" He shook his head, but didn't look away. "You really think something like that's gonna stop me? Look at who you're talking to, bro." He almost wanted to laugh. "You know... how I feel. I’m not gonna just change my mind because you’re not out. Or because we might fuck up. Or because you’re going through shit. Doesn’t work that way. No ones telling you to change who you are or to spill everything to your parents. It’s just. If you want something, whether its me or. Someone else...” Though the thought put a bad taste in his mouth. “I don’t want you to miss out on something that could be good if you gave it a chance.”

“Just... stop, okay? I know that’s not what you meant. And it’s not what I said.” Anyone who knew Brady knew that he liked to do things on his own terms. That included coming out and everything else that meant absolutely anything to him. Max of all people wasn’t about to make him feel like he had to do one thing or the other. “I am myself. Mostly. Just not to them.” He thought he could hold off until later, but almost instinctively Brady found himself reaching into his pocket for his lighter. “If I wasn’t mostly myself around them I wouldn’t have skipped college. And definitely wouldn’t be in filmmaking.” It broke their poor little hearts, but Brady didn’t give a fuck. So why did he care so much about this? He’d never had a clue, and he still didn’t, so instead of dwelling on it he lit the joint again.

Once again Max was the best person he knew, and it only made Brady shake his head, guilt and so many other feelings forming a pit in his stomach. The mention of someone else made Brady feel like he was sinking into the sofa. There certainly wasn’t anybody else. At least not anyone serious, whose name he could even remember. “That’s the thing,” he said, expelling the smoke he’d just been holding in his lungs. “Don’t think it can be good. What I want. Not with them in the picture.” He couldn’t help but picture a repeat of the situation with Hunter, and frankly, Brady didn’t think he could handle it. “You don’t know what you’re talkin’ about. You really don’t.” Brady knew that if they were going to do anything for real, make this an actual thing, it would only be between them for... god knows how long. And Max deserved better than being somebody’s dirty little secret. After a moment Brady looked up at him, lowering his voice as if somebody might be able to hear them despite being alone in the apartment. “You realize I wouldn’t be able to tell them about you,” he said, hoping Max caught on to his hypothetical. “Or... fuckin’ anybody ‘cause it would get back to them.” The idea of not being able to tell them something so deeply personal, their own son, made his jaw tighten. “I wish I could tell them, I’m just.” Scared. But fuck if he was gonna say it. “I dunno. Point is you don’t deserve that.” He stopped, once again fidgeting with the joint, but more carefully this time. “Just want you to be happy, y’know?” He had never felt this nauseous before, and he wasn’t sure what exactly it was. Maybe the thought that Max being happy meant doing whatever he was doing now with whats her name. “And I don’t think I can do that.”

Max knew that Brady was for the most part, himself. That's what he liked about him; had always liked about him. He was never afraid to say what was on his mind or to make it clear when he had something to say. Which is why this was all kind of a shock, even if the signs were all there. He just felt the need to reassure him in that moment, even if it wasn't helping him. He was still so... sad. And he wished he could help more than he was. But he couldn't change the way people thought. No one could. "I'm sorry," he said, quietly, not for the first time. "That you're in that situation. I don't want to make it harder for you. But, man..." His eyes followed the smoke wafting out of Brady's mouth, and the sight was so familiar. This wasn't just some guy. He never had been just some guy. He shook his head, and Max's tone shifted. He was going to lay it all out for him, was going to have to. "Fuck you if you think I don't know exactly what I want." Normally it would be said with a laugh, but his tone remained serious. "Maybe you could say that shit to someone else, and they'd go along with it. I know you're trying to do what you thinks best. You're a good guy, Brady." He searched his eyes, trying to let him know that he meant it. Had always thought it. "But I've been happy with you for like three years. And that was just as friends. If we let it be something more, it'd be hard. I'll agree with you 'bout that." He wasn't completely idealistic, he knew very well what it was like to hide things. And it might be one of the hardest things in the world, but again, this was Brady. "But come on, man. Is it that crazy to think that maybe it could be really fucking good, too?"

He shook his head, and dared to shift closer to him. "I understand why you don't want to drag anyone into this. But what if I want to be?" He wasn't going to beat around the bush anymore. "I'm into you, Brady. You probably know that's not exactly a recent thing." Max barely figured it out himself, but it was suddenly all so painfully clear to him. "You don't have to be my...boyfriend, or whatever other term you wanna use. I understand where you're coming from." He did, too. And he didn't want to overstep with him, but he felt like since Brady was being honest. Now was the time to be honest too. "But I want you, and I'm not gonna back away unless you really want me to." It was easy to feel hopeful when Brady was saying all this stuff, finally opening up. He swallowed and gently reached out with both hands. One clasped around Brady's wrist to still it while the other carefully plucked the joint from his fingers. But he didn't raise it to his own lips, not yet. "And that's the question. What do you want?"

Brady thought he might have started to panic and run away again when this got even more serious, turning into a legitimate conversation about what they could become, but that wasn’t the case at all. The anxiety he’d felt about talking about his parents slowly gave way to warmth. Maybe it was because he was so high, but he knew it also had to do with Max always having that effect on him. Every fucking time. And he liked hearing that someone cared about him enough to want him even through all of the bullshit that no one deserved. “I only wanted you to ‘cause... you didn’t know about any of this shit,” Brady explained, his voice low. “It felt kinda shady to let you say all that and just accept it when I knew there were gonna be problems.” Granted, he shouldn’t have let it get that far without a conversation in the first place. But what could he do now? He didn’t even flinch when Max touched him, not until he was taking the joint from him. Without even asking. Brady looked at him, this close to ignoring his question entirely. But he figured he could handle both. “I just want you to understand what’s going on here. That it was never about...not liking you, or feeling any of that same stuff. And if you get what I’m saying here,” he started, but paused before adding and you’re not gonna wanna tell people because that was probably unspoken, “then I don’t see why we can’t keep doing what we were doing, but. Without excuses, I guess.” They both knew it was never just hooking up, but Brady obviously hadn’t had any way to say that without telling him everything. “I dunno, though,” he added, reaching over to take it back between his fingers. “First problem is I don’t wanna associate with anyone who thinks they can just take my weed without asking.” Brady raised an eyebrow at him.

Max had been left confused over the whole situation with Brady for months. For awhile, he hadn’t been sure if a lot of it was in his own head; wishful thinking. He’d gone through a range of emotions: embarrassment, hurt, confusion. There had always been something off about how Brady had acted when Max had let on to how he felt, but he hadn’t been about to argue with him about it any more than he had. So now that he was finally telling him the truth, Max was just relieved. If not cautiously optimistic. But on the other hand, he was sad for him. He’d had no idea about the stuff with his parents, and it did make sense why he hadn’t wanted to get involved with him. But Max wasn’t the type to just give up on something because it might not be what he expected. “I do get it. I get what you’re saying.” And he did. “I’m not gonna lie to you and say it’s just gonna be second nature for me. I mean, I’m out. More than out. Have been for a long time.” It had been a part of himself for so long that it was just second nature to be vocal about it. “But I understand why you’re not. And I’m not gonna. I dunno. Do anything to make that worse for you. Or try to get you to do anything before... Before you’re ready, you know?” He could really use that joint that Brady grabbed back from him right now, but he couldn’t help but grin regardless. Still Brady even when they were trying to have a freakin’ heart to heart, or whatever this could be classified is. Max wasn’t entirely sure what even brought this on, but he almost couldn’t believe he was talking to him about this right now. It made his chest feel warm, despite the fact he wouldn’t let him smoke his weed, obviously.

”Yeah? Weird. Don’t think I can associate with anyone who’s so stingy. Guess this conversations over now.” But he didn't argue it or try to be annoying like he normally maybe would be; didn't really feel up to it when his mind was on other things. The teasing fell off, his small smile fading as he shook his head. “Listen, if you really mean all that. If you feel comfortable. Then okay. We can keep doing what we were doing before. No excuses. And if it’s too much. You can tell me. I know... I know we’ve been weird and shit. But we’re friends.” His words were genuine and he felt fucking vulnerable all over again. He didn’t think they’d been having this conversation. He’d been putting the whole thing out of his mind for the sake of their friendship; been keeping himself busy. And just like that, guilt settled into his gut. Calia. “But I've...got to be honest with you too. I’ve been — kind of seeing someone. For a little while. Just a couple weeks. Not a big deal or anything. We’re mostly just friends." He felt guilty. He’d known how he felt about Brady when he’d started to get to know other people, but at that point he figured whatever was going on between them was over and done with. They hadn’t been dating or anything anyway; that was clear from the beginning. And he hadn’t been really trying to keep it from him. They had agreed to get their friendship on track. But now he felt like he needed to tell him for the sake of not feeling shady, like he’d kept something from him. Although he knew he probably didn’t need to explain himself. “It’s not serious. Just. Yeah.” He reached a hand up to run through his hair. “It’s been... a real weird past couple of months.”

It felt good to fix things — or to start to fix things, at least. Brady could finally take a breath knowing he hadn’t ruined things with his best friend forever. He should have known it was going to take a lot more to come between them; they’d have had to officially figure it out eventually. “Appreciate that.” This wasn’t gonna be ideal for anyone, whatever they decided to do. At least not right away. But like everything else in his life, Brady would figure it out. He had to deal; he had no choice. And that was what he had been telling himself since Max had started hanging with somebody else, which he was all too painfully reminded of as Max himself brought it up. Brady shifted in his seat and took another long hit, pretty much just to occupy himself as Max spoke so he didn’t squirm. “I know.” God, did he know. “It’s whatever.” It wasn’t just whatever, it hadn’t been whatever since the moment Max had first mentioned going to hang out with someone god knows how long ago now. But Brady wasn’t going to tell him how sick it made him feel because that wasn’t fair. Brady had made it clear he didn’t want things with Max to go any further and he had respected that. So Brady had no place to care. And yet...he did. “You can do whatever you want,” he mumbled. He was trying not to sound as shitty as he felt, but it was the truth regardless. Brady didn’t control his choices. He didn’t know what else to say about that, frankly, so without looking up he reached over and offered him the joint again, this time on Brady’s own terms.

Max felt off telling him that; like it was wrong to say it out loud. Still, it felt even worse not saying it and pretending like he hadn’t been hanging out with someone else during the time they were not... doing what they had gotten used to doing. Max had been trying to separate himself, if he were being honest. He hadn’t wanted to ruin their friendship by continuing to have feelings for him if Brady didn’t want them, and he knew himself. He knew he got into his own head and had a tendency to be a little too emotional when it came to certain things, so he’d put himself out there again. But suddenly everything he knew changed; got flipped around. And Brady was essentially saying he wanted him, too, despite all of the things that had held him back before. Max was having a real hard time not feeling fucking hopeful about that and not fixating on that particular detail, because it was obvious Brady had trouble talking about his family and everything he’d just told him. He didn’t want to overstep any boundaries he might still have, but he also had been fucking... pining over him, for the lack of a better term, for God knows how long now. And now when Brady was admitting to him that maybe it wasn’t entirely one-sided, God, that same feeling came back almost instantly. “That’s not what I’m trying to... I just wanted to be honest.” He shook his head as he took the joint that was now offered to him, but now he wasn’t even thinking about smoking it. Just held it in his hand, twisting it in his fingers as he glanced out for a moment. “She's cool. Been a good friend.” What was he trying to say? His stomach kept turning anxiously. “But I keep thinkin' about how I miss you." And that wasn’t fair to her, even if it was just for fun. He wanted him to understand that. The idea of saying too much and scaring him off now was daunting, but he needed to know where he was at.

“Let me try that again. We did hook up.” Max peered at the side of his face, honest to God anxious. “But we’re... not going to anymore.” He knew Brady wasn’t his boyfriend, that this was all new for him. But Max wanted so badly to see where it could go. He’d never stopped wanting to try, even through their distance. Which normally would have been a problem, until suddenly it wasn’t. And he knew he could do what he wanted. But he’d already known who he’d wanted for some time now. He wasn’t gonna let that opportunity slip just because he’d been in his feelings. He lifted the joint to his lips once more; the smoke filling his lungs familiarly. “We were hanging out.” He reiterated, heart still kind of racing and he couldn’t seem to stop it. He held the joint back out to him, for good this time, trying to meet his eyes as he exhaled slowly. “But I’d rather be hanging out with you.” He paused, and he wanted to shift closer really badly in that moment. “And I want...” Max started, but stopped. Thinking over his words for once. “If it’s okay with you.” It was weird saying this out loud. This time without any alcohol involved. A little weed, maybe. But it was different. “I really wanna kiss you again. If that’s cool.” He stopped and cracked a smile. And fuck he hoped this wasn’t too much too soon. He’d never been this scared of someone turning him down before. But things were always different with Brady. “You should be proud of me, you know. That alone should warrant a yes. Didn’t even have a Four Loko this time.”

“Bro.” Brady knew what he was trying to do, to patch things up in his own way just like Brady himself was trying to, but it didn’t stop his stomach from twisting. “Gotta be honest, I know and I don’t really wanna hear it.” Max was too nice for his own good sometimes. But he was sure he could try to understand why Brady didn’t need him to be that transparent. And instead of coming right out and saying he was jealous as fuck, especially considering he had literally no right to be, he’d just make his responses crystal clear. He wanted to not care who she was and what Max did, but he’d be lying if he said that, so he decided not to. Brady’s heart pounded in his chest when Max said he wanted to kiss him and he couldn’t quite hide the smirk that finally overshadowed his grumpiness. Still, he couldn’t help but think he should hold back a little. “Is that a good idea?” he asked, mostly just wondering aloud. He knew they were having this whole conversation for a reason, but something in him told him it might not be right to jump right back into things right this second, for maybe the same reason Max had wanted to be so honest about what was going on with him. “I am,” he conceded with a firm nod. “But it’s also not like it was then.” Then it wasn’t supposed to mean anything. This was supposed to mean a whole lot more. And Brady almost felt like... he’d be wasting it, a first real kiss, if Max wasn’t actually thinking it through. “Just want you to be sure I guess.”

Max could tell Brady was getting upset, or maybe uncomfortable about what he was saying. So he wasn’t going to say anything more about it. It even made him feel a little guilty. He wanted him to know he wanted him; had wanted him. So now his instinct was to show him instead. It felt like a pretty good idea to him. This is what he’d wanted for way too long now, but Brady’s words caused him to take a small step back. So to speak. Sometimes it was hard for him to take a second to think or to stop himself from doing something that felt fucking right in the moment. But Brady had just told him the truth and told him about his parents. Maybe it was too much too soon, and he was trying hard to tell himself that as he made himself stop in his spot. “If you want to wait, or think I need to. Then okay.” He knew Brady meant about wanting something with him when things were like they were. But he couldn’t help that he already knew, without question, that he’d do it for Brady. “I can wait. I’m more patient than I look.” Max cracked another small half-grin to try to ease the mood, but at the same time, he was dead serious. He nudged his arm gently with his own, but made no moves to touch him any further, even if God knows he wanted to. Holding himself back was hard. But shit. This was Brady. He'd respect whatever he wanted to do. And maybe he should talk to Calia first, because he did want to do this right with him. And she deserved honesty too. "But just so you know, I'm gonna want to kiss you eventually. And I'm not going to change my mind about that. Not unless you do." His words were sincere. "Or your breath is really bad. But those are just about the only things that could scare me off, dude." He wasn't going to just turn him away because of his parents or because he wasn't ready to come out. Max was far from perfect. He didn't like keeping secrets, but he couldn't help but have a feeling this would be worth it.

Brady nodded in genuine understanding. He still felt fidgety, looking down so he could focus on the constant, dare he say it, nervous movement of his fingers. Because suddenly he was at a loss. He had said what he’d needed to say and so much of his anger, every negative feeling that had built up over the course of his life about his parents, had been put out into the universe and now it was melting away. Max didn’t make him feel that way; quite the opposite, in fact. So he was back to feeling a little deflated, almost sinking into the couch below him. Though maybe that had more to do with being high. He couldn’t be sure and he didn’t really care. “Well,” he said after a few long, quiet moments. “I think we should. Wait.” It sort of just felt like the right thing to do. Kissing Max was a gateway to a shit ton of emotions and physical urges that Brady didn’t really think would do either of them any good when he had just spilled his guts. “I just wanted to tell you that stuff.” Brady pulled his legs up onto the couch beside Max and lounged back a bit, almost kicking his friend in the process. But fuck it, he could deal. “I felt like I owed it to you, or something. After everything.” Everything he had done to screw Max over. But they both knew that. He rested the hand holding the joint over his knee. It was nearing its end at this point and Brady stared at for a moment before flicking his gaze back up to Max’s face. “I’m sorry, man,” he said quietly. A blanket statement, he supposed, because he didn’t specify further. It felt like something he should say, though. “I’m glad you didn’t tell me to go fuck myself.”

#CANON #the talk #current verse #012

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braxarchives · 3 years

Text

Happy Birthday, Bradford ― CANON. (current verse)

It’s Brady’s birthday, and things between him and Max have gone relatively back to normal. They are on their road to mending their friendship after the events in 010. However, the morning of Brady’s party, Max decides he’d like to give him a gift in private. Shameless NSFW.

Headcanons following the events of 010; before the events in 011: After having the emotionally charged sexual encounter detailed in thread 010 - Safety Blanket, Max and Brady both decided that holding onto negative emotions would only further harm their relationship. They had a small talk where they decided to not hook up like they were doing anymore, and as of this para are working on mending their friendship. It has been a little over the month since they last had sex, and things are relatively normal. Aside from the fact that the sexual tension hasn’t quite dissipated, which leads us here: in their apartment, the morning of Brady’s birthday.

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When Brady stirred awake abruptly, he assumed Draco had hopped up on his bed to wake him, which usually meant that Brady had ridiculously overslept and the poor dude wanted a walk. But he was surprised when he slowly came to and figured out it wasn’t Draco’s hair tickling his ear as he kissed his face, but... Max. Wrong puppy. Brady turned so he could get a better look at him, wondering what on earth he was doing since he was pretty sure they had just recently come to an agreement not to do this anymore to make sure they didn’t fuck things up again. Although it wasn’t like Brady was making any moves to shove Max off of him or even slightly imply he wanted him to stop pressing his lips to Brady’s skin. In fact, it caused his eyes to slip shut again, possibly because he was still half asleep. Maybe he was still just dreaming after all. “Um, hi,” Brady finally managed to say, voice low and hoarse from having just awoken. He popped one eye open again to eye him curiously. “Are you lost?” He wasn’t angry or anything like that, not by a long shot. He supposed he just wanted to make sure Max wasn’t drunk off his ass or something—Brady rolled his head over and reached to check the time on his phone—at seven in the morning. “Jesus. What’re you doin’, man?”

This could so backfire in his face. Max pulling this shit this early in the morning could potentially set him and Brady back even further than they had been. Like how him and Brady had been before they'd talked and decided to stop this...whatever they were doing. They'd agreed it was for the best, but that didn't stop the urge to touch him whenever they were alone. It just kind of made those urges worse. So when Brady's Birthday rolled around? It didn't make sense to hold back. It was just one day, after all. After that, they could go back to normal. At least that's what Max told himself as he snuck his way into his room that morning, careful not to make any sudden noises to wake up Arlo on his way. Since she was back from filming her movie, he couldn't just stomp all over the apartment. Not when he was on a mission like this. He let himself into Brady's room, shutting the door behind him. Brady had been asleep, and again, the bad idea warning bells went off in his mind. He didn't want to touch him without his permission, but he wanted to wake him up in a better way than just shaking him. So before Max could really talk himself out of it, he was climbing onto the bed next to him, palms pressing into the mattress on either side of Brady's body as he leaned over him. He hesitated, but only for a second, before brushing a kiss to the side of his jaw. He slowly trailed kisses to his cheekbone, when Brady finally began to stir. He moved his head back as he finally opened his eyes, and Max couldn’t help but smile at the sleepiness in his voice. Brady shouldn’t be this cute when Max was in here trying to give him birthday sex. But the hoarseness in his voice was also kind of hot, so Max would focus on that.

"Hi." He said simply, noting that Brady wasn’t pushing him off or freaking out. He leaned back a bit to give him a chance to let what was happening sink in, and to let him check the time. When he still wasn’t pushing him away, Max shook away whatever doubts he had about this, and got brave. “I know exactly where I am.” He hooked a leg over Brady’s torso in order to straddle his waist. He let his weight settle on him, and his hands came to rest by his friend’s head. “We’re in your room. And it’s your Birthday.” He said simply, before ducking his head down to his neck. He dragged his lips over Brady’s pulse point, before tugging gently at the skin with his teeth. His tongue laved over the spot, and he was hoping he wasn’t reading too much into this. Hoping he wasn’t going too far. “Birthdays don’t count.” He spoke quietly; breath hitting the side of his neck. He lifted up his head to meet his eyes, hoping Brady was awake enough now to truly get what he was saying. Max took a chance, and pressed his hips down firm against Brady’s, rocking against him just enough to get his attention. “What kinda friend would I be if I didn’t let you fuck me today of all days?” He paused, and he was waiting on his reaction. One of his hands lifted to brush through Brady’s hair, and his hands burned to touch him again. He wanted to press himself closer; to just go for it. But he was giving him an out. Still, Max’s gaze dropped to his lips nonetheless. His tone was quiet; hushed, and honestly – he felt kind of desperate right now. “We’ll call it part of your present.”

Brady may have still been half asleep, but he certainly didn’t miss what Max said. How could he, when it was emphasized by Max grinding his hips down against Brady’s? Jesus. It was too early for Brady to already be thinking everything he wanted to do to him. But a few weeks of voluntary avoidance of this exact situation was a few weeks too many. “Well that didn’t last very long, did it?” Brady teased. He wanted to bring a hand up to the back of Max’s neck and pull him in, but instead he pushed Max’s chest until he rolled off of him. “Lemme brush my teeth first, though.” More for Max’s sake than his own. Brady hopped up faster than he probably ever had at 7am to head to the bathroom and do just that. When he finished, he straight up power walked back to his room and shut the door behind him. “You’re fuckin’ welcome,” he said without missing a step, returning to his bed and tugging Max by the waistband of his boxers to bring him back to his previous position. From there Brady was finally able to pull him down by the back of his neck and kiss him hard. It was ridiculous how badly he wanted this when they weren’t doing it. Only now it wasn’t a weird accidental thing that Brady felt pissed off about, it was an exception. Max was totally fucking right; birthdays didn’t count. “Yeah?” Brady said against his lips, holding his gaze. Both hands wandered over the skin of Max’s back before sliding down and settling on his ass, as Brady pressed his hips upward against Max’s. He broke away from the kiss entirely so he could speak more clearly. “Since it’s my day, guess I get to call the shots this time.” He bit his lip, glancing down between them to see the movement of their bodies together. He was already getting hard. Fuckin’ Max. “That okay with you?” Not that it was gonna be a discussion. Max had had his whole thing when he was pissed off. Now it was back to their regularly scheduled program... and maybe even a little more than usual. It was a special day and all.

Max couldn’t even verbally respond to him, because it was true. His resolve hadn’t lasted all that long. It was honestly starting to seem impossible for him to even have that around Brady. Although this time, none of the anger from last time was there. After their talk, they’d managed to get their friendship back on track. But that still didn’t stop how much Max wanted him and how much he thought about him just like this over the past few weeks. But when he was pushing him off, Max rolled to the side, confused before he realized what Brady was doing. And - oh hell yeah. Relief and excitement pooled in the pit of his stomach, and he shifted on Brady’s bed while he went off to brush his teeth. Max had done the same before coming over; hoping for the best. He wasn’t quite sure what to do with himself while he waited. He leaned back against the bed, staring up at the familiar ceiling for a second. He felt fidgety now though; wanting to just touch him already. He had half a mind to just touch himself since Brady was now off brushing his teeth, even if it was for Max’s own benefit. It had been weeks since they’d last done this, he didn’t want to keep drawing it out now. But suddenly Brady was back, and he was sitting up and letting him pull him back into their previous position. He surged forward, lips pressing against his just as insistently as they resettled onto the bed. Only this time, Brady’s hands were all over him and he was looking at him in that way that always made his skin feel so hot.

“Fuck. Yeah,” was his brilliant response as rolled his hips down against him again, hands falling to rest on his chest as he used the leverage to grind against him a little more insistently. While last time had been unexpected, and hot at first despite how it had ended – Max had no complaints about Brady calling the shots. Sometimes maybe he liked it a little too much. “Yeah, it’s okay with me.” He managed to say as one hand began to slide its way down Brady’s body, fingernails grazing over his skin purposefully. His hand stopped as he stifled a small groan as they moved against each other. “What d’you want, Brady?” His gaze fell on his face, and he swallowed hard. He wanted him so much already; it’d been too long. His stomach tightened at the thought of what was about to come. “Want me to suck you off? Missed doing that.” Max’s words were low, and he leaned in again for a deep kiss, feeling a shiver roll pleasantly down his spine at the contact. His eyes fell shut, but all too soon he broke apart. “Or do you wanna fuck me?” The hand that froze on Brady’s stomach began it’s way downward again, stopping right above his friend’s boxers. God he wanted to touch him again so badly. “Whatever you want. We’ll do it your way.” He had to pause again to get control of his words, and he rolled his eyes up to meet his again. And he didn’t care about beating around the bush or pretending like he didn’t still want him. “I still think about it whenever I look at you, you know.” His heart started to thump heavily in his chest in the admission, and he was getting hard at just talking like this. “You fucking me.” He rolled against him once more; this time with more force. “I haven’t fucking stopped.”

“I want you to shut the fuck up.” Brady sat up, pushing Max with him until he was sitting straight up with Max in his lap. Brady wrapped his arms around Max’s waist and ducked his head to kiss his neck. “I’m gonna do whatever I want,” he repeated, almost to reiterate that he didn’t need Max’s permission for it. “And you’re gonna take it.” Brady knew he would stop him if it was too much — safe words and all that — but he also knew Max well enough to know it would probably take a lot to reach the point of too much, if their track record was any indication. He trailed open mouthed kisses along Max’s neck, grazing his teeth on his skin when he got to his collarbone. “Do you?” Brady asked, the low tone of his voice now not just because he was sleepy. “Well, I’m not gonna fuck you yet.” He leaned back a bit so he could look at him. “But be a good boy and maybe I’ll give you what you want so bad.” He smirked, but lord knew he was serious. He was taking back control. As much as he’d loved the way Max was last time, Brady was still Brady, and despite the aggression having been hot, he was way more into not being pissed at each other. Brady pushed Max off of him once more. He had to give himself space to wiggle out of his boxers and throw them somewhere on the floor. Wasting no time today. “First. Since you miss it so much,” Brady said with another smirk, reaching down to wrap a hand around himself, “why don’t you come suck my dick?” He stroked himself slowly, fully hard now in no time at all. Max tended to have that effect on him and he knew it. “Show me why you came all the way in here to wake me up.”

Max’s eyes flickered closed at the low rumble of Brady’s voice and the feeling of his lips and teeth on his skin. A groan threatened to pull from his lips already; his body already responding to Brady taking back control. He was quickly getting harder; Brady telling him he was going to have to take what he was given and being serious about it was so fucking hot. Max always did like it a little too much when Brady got like this. There was something about him being so demanding with him that made his stomach clench tightly. Especially now, after not having him for weeks. It hit him more intensely than usual; made him want to do exactly what he wanted him to. The words be a good boy echoed throughout his mind, and he bit his lip as Brady pushed him off only to stroke his dick and urge him to come over and suck it. He breathed in sharply and let his eyes trail down his body. “You always this bossy on your birthday? Learn somethin’ new everyday.” He tried to tease him, something he did solely to get a rise out of him. But he didn’t have it in him to draw this out right now - so Max pushed himself onto his knees nonetheless, palms pressed to the mattress as he moved his head to hover above Brady’s dick. And that’s when his brain became even more clouded by lust. It was kind of wrong, sneaking into his best friends bedroom to suck his dick while their other roommate was asleep. Not to mention that he was fully prepared to let Brady take full control; to tell him exactly what he wanted him what to do. “I wanna suck your dick.” His words broke up just slightly, and he wasn’t going to think twice about his actions right now. “Fuck. I wanna be a good boy.” The words poured out on their own, and his voice felt a little hoarse already. His tongue darted out to swipe over his bottom lip, and fuck, it was too early to be so into this but Max didn’t care. He lifted his eyes to meet his, almost feeling like he was asking for permission. One of his hands lifted to stroke him, already loving the feeling of touching him again. And normally he’d stop before doing anything; make some sort of comment just to get Brady to get that annoyed look on his face and tell him to shut up. But he’d craved this; thought about it way too much. Max’s breath brushed over the head of Brady’s dick before he brushed his lips over the spot. Slowly, he sucked the tip into his mouth, slowly dragging his tongue over the slit before breaking apart briefly to keep stroking him. He felt a little lightheaded already and he hadn’t even really gotten started. No sooner did he break apart, did he lean back in, hand gripping the base of his cock firmly as he slowly inched him into his mouth. His tongue slid along the underside, taking care to reach every inch of him he could. One of his palms lifted to sit on Brady’s thigh, and a moan vibrated through him as he started to move his head, setting a pace as he exhaled sharply through his nose. He wanted to make this good for him; he missed his reactions and the way he sounded more than he’d allowed himself to admit over the past few weeks.

“Then show me,” Brady urged, a hand coming up to the back of Max’s head and tightening in his hair. He didn’t push his head down, instead waiting for Max to make that call himself; though Brady’s hand in his hair made it very clear he didn’t want him to change his mind. Thankfully Max didn’t, and Brady bit his lip as he felt his mouth on him once more. The fact that they had resisted the urge to do this for weeks made this so much more intense right off the bat. Brady couldn’t wait to feel every inch of him again — and that started with that fucking mouth of his, not speaking. “That’s it,” Brady said breathlessly. He propped himself up on his elbow so he could look down and watch, while the hand tangled up in blond hair tightened to hold Max right where he was. “Fuck yeah. Just like that.” He lifted his hips off the bed, building up a slow rhythm of thrusting shallowly into Max’s mouth. He didn’t want to go too far. Not just yet, at least. He wanted to take his time savoring all of this. Plus, watching Max do the work himself without Brady just holding his hair and fucking his mouth was a lot more satisfying. Brady didn’t know how long he stayed there, taking it all in as his body was still kind of just waking up in the first place. He watched Max through heavy-lidded eyes as he bit his lip to keep from making too many sounds. Before he even started to get close Brady tugged at Max’s hair, urging him to pull away.

“Come here.” He waited for Max to move back up to where he was, then he leaned in to kiss him hard, just for a moment before pulling and turning toward the bedside table. “I’m gonna suck your dick,” he said. Goddamn, he had missed doing it too. He wasn’t going to say it out loud but it probably wouldn’t take Max long to figure it out. “And then,” Brady continued, finding the condom and lube he was looking for, “I’m gonna fuck you.” He dropped them on the mattress and crawled back toward Max. “Until you’re begging me to let you come.” Brady sat back to pull down Max’s boxers and throw them out of his way. Then he straddled his waist, lowering his face until it was inches from Max’s. “Because you’re not going to until I say you can.” He didn’t miss another beat, dragging his lips down in a trail from Max’s jaw, over his chest, his stomach, as Brady positioned himself right between his legs, his lips now mere inches from Max’s cock instead. “Still think you can be a good boy for me?” Brady wrapped his hand around Max’s cock, stroking him with a tight grip, maybe too quick to start out with but fuck if he cared. “‘Cause I’m gonna need you to start by telling me how much,” Brady paused to still his hand and press his lips to Max’s cock, but no more than that before raising his head to continue speaking, “you want me to suck your dick right now.” Brady licked his lips, his hand still gripping tightly but no longer moving, and he eyed him in anticipation. “Tell me, Max. Tell me how much you’ve been thinking about it.”

The familiar feeling of Brady tangling his hand in his hair tightly only spurred Max on. The encouragement in his words only caused him to become more insistent - quickening his pace while his tongue ran along the length of him. He moaned through shallow breaths while Brady thrust into his mouth, doing his best to continue what he was doing throughout it. The sensation of him sliding against his tongue was something he tried to forget about, but now that he had it again, he was trying to draw it out. He didn't want it to end too soon. But then Brady was pulling him off and maneuvering him in a way that had all words of potential protest dying in his throat. A chill ran throughout his body at the words; his mind already going a mile a minute picturing what Brady was saying to him. All he could do was just look at him a second, brain muddled with desire he wasn't even going to try to hold back right now. His back hit the mattress as Brady crawled on top of him, and he couldn't seem to look away from his face. "Brady -- fuck." The word came out strained, and it sounded desperate to his own ears as his head fell back to the pillow behind him.

The sudden pressure to his dick and the things his best friend were telling him were enough to render him speechless for the time being. He swallowed back another moan, although it morphed into a slight whimper in the back of his throat. Max tried to bow his head to look at him while he did this. "I want this, please--" His words broke up, needing Brady to do more and knowing he'd have to ask for it this time. Maybe he deserved it after last time, when he'd done this to Brady. The thing was, he didn't mind one bit. Having to beg his friend to suck his dick was making him feel a little out of control, and it had his stomach flipping and his cock aching. "I keep thinkin' about it. Your mouth. Nothing else feels as good." He paused, licking his lips as he sat up on his elbows to get a better look at him. Max dared to reach a hand out to brush over the top of his head; over his hair. His fingers tangled in it carefully, not too rough because he wouldn't put it passed Brady right now to pull away. All he wanted right now was his mouth on him, and his tone dropped an octave. Desperation began to take over, and he tried to plead with him. "Been trying to stop myself from coming in here all week." He admitted, and his hips lifted off the bed just a bit, trying to get Brady to do something. "I fucking… need it, okay?” He swallowed thickly, and he should be embarrassed at how true that was right now. “Come on, B. Please. I’ll be good; do whatever you want." He murmured. “Just show me what I’ve been missin’.”

Brady wasn’t exactly petty enough to call this whole thing payback, but he was still very much aware of the side of him Max had managed to bring out the last time they did this. Desperate, eager to comply, at times begging; the only person who might ever manage to turn him into that was Max. So while he wasn’t solely out to get his revenge or whatever, it certainly felt good to flip things back on him. The sheer satisfaction flowing through him at Max’s words was immeasurable. Brady listened, taking in everything Max said and responding every time he spoke by placing another kiss on his dick, tantalizingly slow and gentle and nowhere near enough. The nickname caused warmth to replace the overwhelming sense of satisfaction for a bit, flowing through him as a pleasant reminder that this was his best friend. Brady was all too aware of how much he cared about him and wanted to make him feel good, just as much as he wanted to see him squirm. So he decided Max’s pleading was enough and took him into his mouth. He couldn’t even hide his downright enthusiasm right from the start, but he didn’t care — and he would like to see Max try and comment on it. Brady’s grip stayed tight around the base as he found a rhythm. Brady’s free hand pressed into Max’s hip, and eventually he let go of his cock so his other hand could join, holding Max down right where he wanted him while he worked his mouth over him. Brady didn’t even want to think about how eager for it he looked, because he knew how he felt and that was enough to give him a good idea. Max always fucking did that to him, though. Brady craved him in every way, wanted to feel every part of him all of the time. And here Max was, letting him despite it all just because it was Brady’s birthday. Jesus, it was hot. The thought had Brady moaning around him, and he wanted more. He pulled away and replaced his mouth with his hand, stroking him at generally the same pace. “Your turn,” Brady told him, looking up at him from his current position. He hoped Max knew he was referencing the last time, but it wasn’t like he wasn’t going to tell him anyway. “Fuck my mouth. I know you miss that.” He licked his lips, keeping his gaze locked on Max’s and the movement of his hand consistent. “But don’t you dare fucking come in my mouth,” he reminded him. “Can you handle that?”

Max couldn’t explain the relief he felt when Brady finally inched him into his mouth. After all of the teasing, he felt like he was going to lose his mind. Max let out a deep groan that he hadn’t realized he’d been holding back as his friend immediately set an eager pace. And he had to bite his lip hard as he looked down at him; watching him with rapt attention as he worked his mouth over his cock and moaned around it. It was showing him that he wanted this just as much as Max did. A warmness settled into his chest; a familiar feeling that had gotten him in trouble before. It had been weeks of them deciding not to do this anymore, but the fucking softness he felt for Brady still managed to linger behind. God, he missed him. Missed being able to touch him like this, missed being this close. Even if it was only for his Birthday. He just missed him. Those were the only coherent words in his mind, and he had to swallow to prevent from saying them out loud. They only had one night, and he was going to draw this out and savor it for as long as he could. His fingers tightened in Brady’s hair, needed something to do with his hands, and exhaled slowly while his hips were held down.(edited)“God. Your mouth. I --- fuck.” Max couldn’t get out a complete sentence as he leaned his head back, eyes shutting on their own as he took in how it all felt. He wanted so badly to get more friction; wanted so badly to move his hips, but soon enough his silent plea was answered. All he could do was bring his head back down and look at Brady blankly for a moment, eyes half-lidded and mouth hanging open just a bit as he struggled to get at what he was saying. But then he was spelling out for him, and everything clicked. He sure as hell did miss that. The way his gaze dropped to Brady’s mouth and lingered was likely answer enough. “I can handle it,” was all he could say, more than a little breathless at the thought. He wasn’t going to hide the fact that he liked that idea, and he wasn’t going to miss the opportunity while it was being given to him. “I promise, I can handle it --- just, please.” He tried to clear his head, but it wasn't working. "Come here."

The hand on his dick was distracting him in the best way. His fingers tangled tighter in Brady’s hair, and Max braced himself on the mattress with one arm as he scooted forward, dragging Brady’s head back a bit as he did so in order to position them both the way he needed to. When Brady positioned his mouth over him once again, Max’s hips thrust upwards cautiously at first, eyes roaming over Brady’s face. After seeing no discomfort, Max gave into what he really wanted to do. His thrusts were shallow at first, causing him to hold his breath at how unbelievably unreal it felt just to do that. Then he got braver, holding Brady’s head steady while he set a pace. And before he knew it, he was acting purely on instinct. He was breathing heavily through his nose; his heart pounding in his chest with excitement. His thrusts became more insistent; fucking into Brady’s mouth the best he could without losing complete control. “Fuck. Fuck.” He uttered as he forced his eyes to stay open; fixated on his friends face as he let him do this. The way his lips moved over him with every roll of Max’s hips; the way his hair was all mussed due to his fingers gripping it so tightly. He loved seeing him like this, because he looked just as wrecked as Max felt. “Missed this.” The words were spoken in between a small moan as he continued to roll his hips, although his pace was beginning to stutter with his eagerness. And all he wanted was more --- all he wanted was to keep feeling this. He reluctantly released Brady's hair in order to grasp him at the back of his neck, using the leverage to thrust into his mouth a little deeper. Just a little rougher. "You're so..." Fucking unbelievably, honestly. His breath stuttered, and he honest to God was losing his mind a little bit here. The time they spent not doing this had clearly done something to him. "Good at this."

Brady didn’t say anything else. He let Max adjust their positions and hold his hair, tentatively starting to move his hips. Both of Brady’s hands held onto his waist tightly, not holding him down but encouraging him further, wanting Max to drop the hesitance for his sake and do what he had asked him to. Thankfully it didn’t take Max long to realize Brady wasn’t going to push him away and he stopped holding back, holding onto Brady’s head to fuck his mouth — and Brady almost hated how much he fucking loved this. His fingers dug into Max’s skin with more force, simply clinging to him as Brady sat there and took it. The sound of Max’s irregular breathing and all of his broken words were incredibly hot. Brady moaned despite himself and hoped it might encourage Max to stop swallowing back his own sounds. Though it occurred to Brady then why Max might be holding back, as he remembered their other roommate was home now, and they had to be careful. But the possibility of anyone hearing, knowing what they were doing, regardless of all the implications of someone knowing about Brady before he came out himself, turned him on more than he’d like to admit. And the thought of holding it over Max’s head was another thing entirely. Brady shivered at the idea of it. Max speaking again pulled Brady out of his thoughts. He didn’t hesitate to reach back and grab Max by the wrist, pulling his hand away from Brady’s neck to free him enough to break apart and sit back. Brady wiped his mouth with the back of his hand as he stared down at Max. He took a moment to debate what exactly came next. He knew he wanted to fuck him, and he knew he wanted to have the upper hand, but this was also only one day that they were going to do this (special occasion and all) and he felt like he should make the most of it. Maybe return the favor and see a side of Max he hadn’t totally gotten out of him yet.

“I’m gonna try something,” Brady told him, essentially making the decision right as he said it. He slid off the bed and walked over to his closet, sifting through for a bit until he found what he was looking for. He turned back to Max and approached the bed, a blue striped silk tie draped over his hand. “You can say no,” Brady reminded him, completely serious, of course. He wasn’t in the business of making anybody do something they didn’t want to do, and he knew Max knew that, but still. “Or you can say yes, and put your hands above your head for me.” Getting the go ahead from Max wasn’t necessarily shocking, but fuck if it wasn’t still exhilarating. Brady watched as Max complied, his skin feeling hot every time Max did what he said, especially now. Brady approached him and paused, just a moment, before leaning over him and looping the tie around both wrists. He made sure it wasn’t so tight it would actually be unpleasant, then tied the other end around the bar of the headboard. And suddenly Brady was completely in control and it nearly sent another shiver down his spine. But he also felt an overwhelming urge to reassure him right away. Brady leaned down to kiss him deeply, holding his face with both hands, then moved to his neck where he spoke against his skin. “You look so fucking good like this.” Brady paused to nip at his skin, sucking hard for a moment before swiping his tongue over the spot. “All for me.” The selfish part of him swelled with pride at the thought, and Brady licked his lips as he sat up again and took in the sight before him. Max really did look unbelievable, and it was all because he trusted him. Brady wasn’t gonna let that get away from him.

“I’m gonna fuck you now,” he told him, reaching for the lube he’d dropped on the bed earlier. Brady was painfully hard and part of him wanted to do this as quickly as possible, but a bigger part of him wanted to take his sweet time while he had the chance. “I don’t want you to hold back.” Brady tossed the lube aside and leaned over Max again, his free hand planted on the mattress beside his head while Brady wedged his other hand between them. It wasn’t the easiest angle, but it wasn’t like he gave a fuck. His fingers pressed into him slowly; he wasn’t stupid enough to be too careless getting him ready, no matter how badly he wanted this. “I wanna hear you.” Brady ducked his head to press their lips together again, just for a moment before he sat up to get a better angle. “Wanna know how good it feels.” Brady watched Max’s face, heart pounding each time he realized Max was totally at his mercy, and Brady wanted to make it worth it. His hand moved steadily, the other now bracing against Max’s leg, perhaps to hold up both of them. “You’re gonna let me hear all those sounds you make, aren’t you?” Brady swiped his tongue over his bottom lip before biting down hard on it, his brow furrowing in concentration. “Fuck. Can’t wait to fuck you.” He could feel Max relaxing more and more, and it spurred Brady on with the thoughts of what was to come. The hand on Max’s knee moved to his cock, stroking him in time with the pace of his fingers inside him. “You know what I wanna hear. How much do you want it?” Brady tilted his head at him, borderline challenging him. “I won’t know what you need if you don’t tell me.” Which was a lie, because Max needed exactly what Brady himself did. But he wanted to hear him beg. “Gonna have to use your manners.”

Brady had always been a little more on the demanding side, but never quite like this. Everything that was happening this morning felt so hazy, like Max was in a dream. A really, really, hot dream. He was quickly losing all rational thought, instead only focusing on how Brady was making him feel. So when Brady had disentangled himself, only to go to his closet and retrieve a fucking tie, his only true coherent thought was holy shit. And the idea of what Brady was suggesting shot right through him; his cock impossibly hard by this point and his whole body seemed to ache at the idea of it. The mere thought of being restrained while Brady fucked him was something unreal; something he’d never even thought to entertain because this was Brady of all people. Someone who he hung out with and gave him a hard time about stupid things just for the hell of it. Max never thought they’d be here; with Brady basically telling him what to do and not judging him for it when he actually listened. God, though, this was suddenly something he wanted all too much. All he could do was flicker his eyes to his, locking their gazes together, and lift his arms up above his head just like Brady asked. His heart was stuttering all crazy in his chest as the silk was looped over his wrists, effectively pressing them together as they were connected to the headboard.

On the tip of his tongue, a demanding ‘tighter’ threatened to fall from his lips, suddenly wanting to feel the fabric cutting into his wrists. Something to keep him grounded when he felt so out of control. He couldn’t seem to vocalize much, though – not when he was so focused on watching Brady’s look of concentration as he made sure the tie was secure. His skin prickled with something he’d never quite felt before as his best friend looked at him while he was like this. Arousal, excitement, maybe even a little shame settled in – but in the best fucking way. Max felt exposed; truly exposed for maybe the first time since they’d started hooking up. And it was exhilarating in a way he couldn’t really describe, even if he tried. If he had any worries at this new development, they would have been wiped away instantly as Brady kissed him. It was a reminder that this wasn’t just anyone --- this was Brady. His cock jumped a bit with interest as Brady praised him and looked at him with that intense gaze of his. All for me, he’d said. And the truth of that was so unbelievably hot to him. He wouldn’t be so easily spread out like this for anybody else. He’d be overthinking it, he’d be embarrassed. But right now it seemed so unbelievably natural for him to be like this. It should be alarming, but it really wasn’t.

“Yeah?” His voice felt foreign to his own ears, but he wasn’t paying attention to himself. How could he, when Brady began to talk to him in that voice? He sounded so sure of himself; so confident in the fact that he could get Max to beg for it. It was the hottest thing he’d ever heard, him talking to him like this while he literally couldn’t do anything but just lay there for him. His eyes felt wide with lust as he stared at Brady grabbing the lube, only to reach between them and slowly press his fingers into him. “Jesus.” The groan he couldn’t help but make was long and drawn out as he closed his eyes tightly, head rolling back into mattress behind him. His wrists jerked forward automatically, but they didn’t go anywhere, and that realization made this even more torturous. “Fuck. You’re the worst.” He said, off the cuff, but he truly didn’t mean it. That much was likely a given by the way another low moan sounded through the room. This was all so much. Brady’s fingers pumping inside of him while he talked to him so heatedly. It made him feel so fucking dirty, and he loved every second of it. He began to relax as he got used to his fingers, and eventually it wasn’t enough. Seeing Brady stroke his own cock in time to the rhythm of his fingers just made Max want him, want this, even more.

“Brady.” He said again, not for the first time that morning as his head dropped forward. His tone was pleading and his features probably weren’t that much better off. He probably looked as desperate as he felt, but he didn’t care. He didn’t care about appearances or feeling stupid or feeling embarrassed. All he cared about was getting more of what Brady was giving him, so if he had to beg him to get it, that’s what he’d do. Unable to keep himself still anymore, Max rolled his hips downward, fucking himself onto Brady’s fingers. Every nerve ending in his body seemed to come alive at that moment, and he completely lost whatever restraint he’d still been holding onto. “Please, please. Please.” He whispered, voice cracking again as he pleaded with him. His hips continued to roll downwards the best he could, wanting to feel the stretch of his fingers. It wasn’t enough, but it was all he had right now. He forced himself to look up at him, meeting his eyes. And Max’s whole body felt hot. “I need to be fucked.” He swallowed hard and tried to move his wrists again, to no avail. The sound he made in the back of his throat was one of pure frustration. He was talking out of instinct; Max wasn’t thinking at all at this point. “Come on, Daddy. I’ll beg.” His voice was low, hoarse as he looked at his best friend. He couldn't keep his hips still, even now. The words washed over him, and they should have made him stop in his tracks. But they just made him feel more out of his mind with need; like saying it was off limits and he’d broken an unspoken rule. And it really, unspeakably, unfathomably turned him on. He didn’t look away from him; couldn’t at that moment. “I want you to.” His tongue dragged over his bottom lip, and he tried to wrack his brain for things to persuade him. Max felt like he’d tell him just about anything, to get Brady to press himself closer. “Fuck me.” He exhaled slowly; shakily. “Before Arlo wakes up --- just. Please. I need you.”

Max begging Brady to fuck him was ridiculously hot, and Brady found himself literally biting his own tongue to keep from saying anything as he waited for Max to continue. He liked that way too much — being so in control Max legitimately had to beg for more. And the way Max’s hands fought against the tie restraining them was way too much. Brady lost himself in watching, listening, feeling. But the movement of Max’s hips flipped a switch in Brady’s brain and immediately he freed both of his hands to grab Max by the waist, pushing him back down against the mattress. Brady leaned forward, over his body so he could look down at him. “I don’t remember telling you to move.” Max was saying things Brady had never heard him say before, didn’t even know he was into, and it sent his mind into overdrive. He needed to fuck him just as badly as Max was telling him he needed to be fucked. He could only wait a fraction of a second longer before grabbing the condom and tearing it open to roll it on. He situated himself between Max’s legs and gave him one last once over, then pressed one hand against Max’s stomach to hold him in place, the other guiding himself inside of him. And Brady certainly wasn’t going to give him all at once.

He pushed into him just a bit, gaze transfixed on Max’s face to watch his reaction. It took everything in Brady not to just go for it without drawing it out. Brady rocked his hips just slightly, enough to move a little inside him but not enough to really give him what he wanted. The hand on Max’s stomach slid up over his chest. “Still didn’t say you could move,” he reminded him. This was on Brady’s terms. Max surely didn’t have an issue with that. Both hands made their way to the mattress on either side of Max’s head. Finally, Brady pushed the rest of the way in, and he couldn’t help the groan that escaped as he did. He didn’t have as much restraint as he had had a few moments ago and he started to move, immediately setting a pace that was probably a little too quick. But he didn’t give a shit. “Fuck. You feel so good,” Brady told him for probably the hundredth time ever. It was true every time they did this; Max felt unbelievable. He took note of his volume, which was a little hard to control when he was so overwhelmed in every way by everything Max made him feel. Brady focused on keeping his breathing steady as Max’s words about fucking him before Arlo woke up echoed in his mind. He started to voice his thoughts before he could even stop and think about it first. “She could hear us at any second,” Brady said lowly, looking right into Max’s eyes as his face remained just inches away from the blond’s. “She’d know exactly what I’m doing to you right now.” Brady dropped from his hands to his elbows to bring their bodies closer. An attempt to kiss him was sort of intercepted by his own thrusts moving both of their bodies, and his lips ended up sloppily pressed against Max’s cheek instead. “And be able to hear how much you love it.” Brady abruptly pushed up on one arm again, the other going for Max’s hair and tugging roughly so his head tilted back. “Because I told you I wanna hear you,” he said again, his jaw clenched. “What do you need, Max?”

When Brady took his hand away and pushed him back down to the mattress, he felt too many things at once. Him making him slow down was startlingly hot; almost too much for his brain to comprehend right now. And it made frustration gather in the pit of his stomach, because all Max wanted to do was get more. And truthfully, he was always used to getting it himself. Max was always of the mindset that if you wanted something, you had to go get it yourself. He'd always been a bit overactive, in all aspects of his life. When it came to sex, Max was no different. He was always used to doing something; moving his hips or using his hands or mouthing along whatever expanse of skin he could reach. And no one had ever made him slow down or stop altogether. Not until right now, with Brady now pushing him down and getting onto him for moving at all. It made him feel fucking helpless and overwhelmed and just so unbelievably turned on he couldn't even begin to think straight. It was frustrating, but so unexplainably good. He struggled to still his hips although his whole body screamed at him to try to get some sort of friction. He didn't have to wait long before Brady was giving in, just a little, and pushing into him way too torturously slow for his liking.

The low moan that left him didn't entirely sound like him; desperate and broken. Max's head knocked back onto the mattress again, hips jerking before he could help it. But Brady was still telling him not to move, and it was possibly the hardest thing for him to do right now. "Fuck," he said, completely breathless as he opened his eyes to look at Brady's face while he fucked him. "Then move for me." His voice cracked at that; not so much of a demand as it was a request. But again, Brady didn't keep him waiting long, and suddenly he was pumping into him at a pace that almost made him feel dizzy. And just when he thought that he couldn't feel anymore fucking worked up, or any more desperate, Brady had to go and speak to him like that. Telling him things that made shame wash over his whole body. And maybe it was a little wrong, but that shame only made his stomach flip and his heart race violently in his chest. The idea of their roommate was mortifying; humiliating. He felt heat spread over his face and down his chest, and he closed his eyes because suddenly Brady's gaze made him fully aware of the reality of the situation. If she woke up now; she’d hear them. Hear Max when he was like this. It was wrong and absolutely fucking filthy and suddenly he couldn’t breathe. A long, tortured groan left his lips, a little too loud on accident, and that just made him feel even more out of control.

“She---” He struggled to speak. “She’s gonna wake up.” He managed to say through a sharp intake of breath, words caught right before a fucking whimper escaped him. The kiss pressed onto his cheek and the hands tugging his head back overloaded his senses, and it took all Max had to open his eyes again. And he tried his best to speak out again. All this begging was hard when all he wanted was to get lost in how amazing this felt. “Feels so good,” he inhaled sharply, now fully aware of the sounds echoing through the room. And maybe he was speaking nonsense, but Max did not care. “Just want more.” He stretched his head forward, wanting to kiss him, even if Brady told him not to move. He wasn’t thinking. Max couldn’t hold onto one single thought; his brain was a mess and his body was on fire right now. “Touch me. Need you to touch me. Please, Brady? Come on.” He breathed, trying his best to sound clear enough for Brady to hear him. “Want you to touch me - my cock.” He swallowed, hard. “I don’t care, just, something.” Max struggled with his words. “Fuck me harder, even. Make me feel more.” His body was so wound up, he wondered if he could even take more, but he definitely wanted to try. His head was roughly pulled back, and it shut him up for a moment. But only a moment, before he got brave. Max shouldn’t rile him up, but he couldn’t help it. Couldn’t help but push him to see how far they could take this. Even if it was a clear lie, because Max was an absolute wreck right now. “You’re goin’ too easy on me.”

Brady wanted to roll his eyes at Max's statement that she could wake up, but truthfully he couldn't even concentrate long enough to do it. Instead he exhaled in a huff and just barely managed to shake his head. "I don't give a fuck." That was kind of the point after all. The thought that they might be heard was more thrilling than he was willing to admit. Brady's hand tightened impossibly further in Max's hair as he started to speak like Brady had asked him to, his voice broken and absolutely desperate. The fact that Brady brought him to that point of near agonizing need was so satisfying to him. He snapped his hips forward a little harder, his pace quicker, every one of Max's words washing over him and making him feel a little frantic himself. Max giving in to Brady's commands made him want to give in as well; he wanted to touch Max and get him worked up and see him come completely undone. His pleading was enough. But just when Brady was about to comply, Max wanted to get smug with him. Brady stilled almost instantly and looked down at Max.

"Yeah?" he challenged, the word coming out as more of an exhale as his chest heaved while he struggled to catch his breath. It took a decent amount of strength on his part, but his stubbornness outweighed his desires as he held onto Max's waist and pulled out in one swift motion. He had to dig his fingers into Max's skin to resist the urge to immediately start going at it again. This was Max's doing. He was the one who wanted to be a smartass. "Let me fucking help you out then." Brady got up on his knees and made his way toward the head of the bed. Before doing anything else, he pulled off the condom to throw it away. He didn't exactly know how long he was going to be giving Max a hard time and figured it was a safer bet to just get a new one when he was going to fuck him again. "You should probably keep your fuckin' mouth shut unless I ask." Brady reached for the tie binding Max's hands together and to the headboard. He didn't tighten it, instead pulling it undone altogether, releasing Max from the restraint. Before he could do anything, though, Brady leaned over him and took him by both wrists, pinning them down against the mattress beside him. "Still no touching until I let you," he told him with a dead serious glare. "Now you don't have anything to help stop you. So you're gonna have to try harder to behave." He was very aware of the fact that he still hadn't given Max's dick any attention since earlier, but he'd kind of fucked himself over now in that regard.

Brady was also very aware of touching himself, giving himself the contact Max was desperate for. And he was sure Max was plenty aware, too. With one hand still wrapped around his own cock, Brady looked down at Max and trailed his free hand over his stomach and chest, excruciatingly slow, his fingertips grazing every inch of skin he passed. Brady's breathing had yet to completely return to normal and was only exacerbated by how he was now touching himself. Max being a smartass didn't mean Brady had to suffer as a result. It was his birthday, after all. "Let's try this again," Brady said quietly. Even he was surprised by how gruff his voice sounded. He reached for one of Max's hands, the closest to him, and brought it up to replace Brady's own on his cock, urging him to pick up where he left off instead. With both hands free now, Brady was able to lean over and brace one arm against the headboard to hold himself up whole still allowing him to lean over Max. The other continued its previous path up his chest and throat. He cupped Max's chin, pressing his fingers into his jaw with maybe a little too much force, but not enough to actually hurt him; Brady wasn't about that life. Only enough to keep his focus. "Tell me what you need. And maybe I'll give it to you." It was a little bit of an awkward angle when he bent down, with Max's hand still on him and Brady still holding himself up, but he made it work so he could kiss him hard. He only broke apart to preemptively go for the bedside table again to get a new condom, because he was pretty sure Max was willing to comply. "And you won't get it easy this time."

The idea that someone could hear them only made Max feel more desperate for what Brady was giving him. It shouldn’t be affecting him like it was; he knew it was wrong. But he couldn’t help it. His eyes screwed tightly shut as Brady’s hand tightened further in his hair; the sharp sting of it causing him to make another small sound under his breath. Having Brady like this was fucking intoxicating. He’d never had anyone do what he was doing to him. No one had ever taken complete control and made him want to beg for more. But Brady was doing it all too easily, so he’d made a dumb comment. Something meant to tease him into giving Max what he wanted. But he didn’t get what he wanted; not at all. Because Brady was pulling away from him completely. “Noo.” The word was drawn out as his hands jerked against the restraints again; his voice more of a whine. He hadn’t wanted him to stop. That’s not what he wanted. He felt a spark of exhilaration as Brady stretched up to the restraints, because he thought that maybe he was tightening them. Making it harder for him to move his wrists; and that thought alone sent a shock to his system. Made him want Brady back inside of him so badly he wasn’t sure how long he’d be able to lay there without it before losing his mind completely.

But then Brady was untying him altogether, positioning his wrists above his head freely instead. Frustration turned into blind desperation. He suddenly wanted too many things at once. Brady’s hand on his cock, Brady fucking him, Brady tying him back up. He wanted anything at this point; he just needed something.(edited)His eyes were glued to Brady as he touched himself, watching with rapt attention as he did to himself what Max wanted so badly to be done to him. “I’m sorry.” He breathed out, fingertips curling into the sheets, knuckles white as he tried to fight moving. Max was fighting against all instincts to touch himself, to move forward and press himself against Brady and get what he wanted so bad. He was trying so hard to listen, and it made him want this even worse. He’d never tried so hard to listen before, but now he wanted to. Not only because he needed to be touched before he died, but because some big part of him wanted to please Brady. He wanted to give him what he wanted, because the look on his face when he did was forever going to be burned into his brain now. So was this stubborn part of him, but Max liked it more when he was touching him. When Brady guided his hand to his dick so he could touch him instead, Max all too eagerly did so. His fingers wrapped around him easily, gripping him maybe too firmly as he stroked him steadily. If he couldn’t touch himself, he’d do what could do Brady. Maybe if he liked it enough he’d give Max what he needed too.

His eyes closed again as Brady’s hands roamed up his body and grasped his chin firmly. And fuck. That was so hot; too hot for his brain to comprehend among everything else that was happening. “I’m sorry.” He repeated again, tone still wrecked as he met his eyes, not looking away. Max wasn’t even bothering to control his volume now; wasn’t even thinking about it when he felt this out of control and helpless. “Please, I need something. I’ll be good for you.” He was trying so hard to do what Brady wanted; to listen. And he didn’t tell him to, and he might be making it worse for himself, but he was trying to plead with him. Max turned his head just slightly to his left hand, the one that hadn’t been inside him, lips brushing the side of one of his fingers. He didn’t look away from him as he opened his mouth just slightly, tongue flicking against the pad of his fingertip before sucking it into his mouth. Goddamn. He just wanted him to touch him again. After a few moments, he let it go. “Need you to fuck me.” His throat felt dry now. “Miss your cock.” He wasn’t thinking clearly, just that he wanted to persuade him. Max watched, gaze darkened, while he moved away to grab another condom, and he hoped what he was saying was good enough. He wasn’t sure how much more he could wait without breaking. “I wanna be good.” So fucking badly now. “Need you to show me how.”

If Brady were going to rank the hottest things he had ever seen, the sight of Max lying back on his bed — a hand on Brady's cock while the other fought not to move at Brady's command, Max's lips wrapped around Brady's finger — had to be way up there on the list. It could probably only be better if Brady were actually fucking him. As it turned out, he wasn't going to be able to keep himself from doing that for much longer. Especially not with the things Max started saying again. Brady really loved hearing him beg like that. He needed him. Only Brady could give him what he wanted, and only Max could do the same for him in return. It was an unbelievable turn on and Brady was almost moving on autopilot as he shoved Max's hand away and created just enough space between them to be able to roll on the new condom. "You better be," Brady told him, fighting to keep his voice steady. It was hard to feel like he was going to be able to stay in control when he was threatening to break at any second, overwhelmed with how much he wanted Max. He wished he could make this last forever, rather than just a day, an exception to the rule. But such was life, and Brady was going to continue to savor every single second of it. Brady returned to his position between Max's legs.

He didn't waste any time; if Max didn't want him to go easy on him, then he wasn't going to get it easy, just as Brady had promised. He pressed into him again, a drawn out moan pulled from his throat. He didn't quite give either of them a moment to readjust before he started to move. His pace was immediately relentless, Max's body rocking back with every one of Brady's thrusts. He reached for Max's arms and pinned them against the bed on either side of his head, Brady's hands holding each of his wrists. It only added to the feeling of Brady pressing Max's whole body into the mattress with his own. The quickness and sheer force of Brady fucking him this time was very much noticeable and Brady was positive there was no mistaking what they were doing if someone happened to hear them. Of course it only turned him on more. "This good enough for you?" Brady choked out. He forced himself to breathe through his nose to try to control it better, but it was difficult with the way he was moving. Fuck if he was about to stop though. "If I touch you," he said, stopping for a moment to swallow and pull himself together, "you're not... gonna come. Not yet." He had to stop for a bit to sit up a little straighter, causing his hands to leave Max's wrists in the process. "You gotta keep your hands to yourself for me too." He forced himself to remain still, looking down at Max with his chest rising and falling heavily, waiting. "Tell me if you can handle it."

The relief Max felt when Brady finally gave in and pushed back into him was overpowering. He'd never in his life felt so desperate for someone to touch him; he'd never begged for anything like this before. But it came all too easily. Brady was bringing out things in him that he didn't mind exploring. If only he had more excuses to sneak into his room again; it was easy to forget that this wasn't even supposed to happen. Still, Max couldn't get enough of him right now. His voice, the look on his face, the way he moved while all Max could do was lay there anticipating what he was going to do next. It was all too much, but in the best way. So when Brady was giving him what they both needed and pressed into him again, he reacted immediately. "Fuck, yes," he choked out, legs falling apart further to allow Brady more space, though trying so hard not to move too much and have him stop again. He didn't know what he'd do if he stopped now. It was ridiculous how much he felt like he needed this, but fuck --- it was so good all he could do was focus on the feeling of Brady slamming into him.

Brady's whole body was pressed to his, trapping Max to the mattress while his hands gripped onto his wrists. He was surrounded by him; how he felt, how he smelled, how he looked, how he sounded. Max's pupils were likely blown with lust; he'd never felt so out of control and he literally wasn't able to do anything. "Yesyesyes." He whispered fiercely, face turning to press into the side of Brady's neck, breath hitting the side of his skin in short intervals as he took what was given to him. He could hear the sound of their breathing; the sound of their skin sliding together as Brady fucked into him. "So good. Don't - don't stop again," Max breathed out. They were loud, and what Brady said was still echoing in his mind. That their roommate could hear them, that anyone could hear them if they were awake and close enough. The thought again caused his skin to feel flush with embarrassment? arousal? He couldn't tell the difference now and it didn't matter; it was all the same. Everything was just pushing him even further, making him more and more crazy with want. "Won't come until you say. I ---" His chest heaved as he Brady sat up, and suddenly the hands holding his wrists down were gone. "Promise." He pleaded, words barely audible through his short intakes of breath.

Max wasn't thinking about how he might sound or if he was being too much. He was just going off of what he wanted; being honest with him in a way that he hadn't been before because it was so easy to overthink things. But Brady had brought him to the point where he now felt like he didn't have to hold back. Couldn't even if he wanted to. He shook his head before he could speak, and he leaned his head back to look at Brady's face once more. His tone was suddenly quieter than before, but no less insistent. "Want you to touch me. But..." He swallowed, and even now he wanted to squirm in his grasp, but he didn't want Brady to stop again. "I want you to tie me up again.” He let it hang in the air a moment, fully focused on how Brady felt inside him, finding it hard to speak but still trying nonetheless. “I didn't move before, when you said." Even voicing this out loud was too much for him, knowing how he must sound asking for this. He didn't recognize his own voice right now. "I was good. Just --- want you to make me come like that." With his hands tied. Max didn't know why he wanted it so badly again, but damn, he really did. He licked his lips and fixed him with a steady gaze, hoping Brady would just give him what he wanted. Hoping he was begging enough for him. His voice lowered impossibly still. "Tighter this time?"

The way Max’s voice sounded as he talked to Brady, telling him how good it was, asking him not to stop was downright dizzying. Brady was feeling all sorts of frantic again by the time he paused to wait for a response. He wasn’t sure what he had expected, but of all the things he could come up with, he was sure Max asking Brady to tie him up again was not one of them. It caused Brady’s brain to short circuit for a second as he searched his face, trying to decide if he was being serious or not. He didn’t want to do that to him again if Max didn’t really want it. But then, he knew better than to think Max would joke about that, especially right now. “Fuck,” he breathed, nodding quickly. “Yeah. Okay.” Even though Brady was really going for the control thing this time, Max still telling him what he wanted him to do while reiterating he had been good was insanely hot. Reluctantly now, Brady pulled out, but this time it was going to be quick. The tie had fallen on the bed near Max’s head and Brady’s hands were clumsy as he directed Max’s hands back toward the headboard behind him. Just as Max had asked, Brady pulled it tighter, and that in itself sent a chill down his spine.

“How’s that?” he asked, but he knew he wasn’t going to be getting much of an argument. He got back to it almost as soon as he had left, holding Max’s hips firmly while he rocked back inside him again. It once again drove him insane to see Max tied up like that, the next moves on only Brady’s terms — and the fact that he had asked for it caused Brady to completely disregard everything else going on in his life at the moment. All he cared about was how it felt to fuck Max like this and how Max had actually been wanting to do what Brady told him to. “Good boy,” Brady said quietly, finally reaching between them to wrap his hand around Max’s cock. He liked this whole little game they had going on much more than he ever thought he would, but he knew he was going to have to let it go eventually, mostly because he didn’t even know how long he was going to be able to last at this point. Not while Max tried desperately not to move, but begged for more, and Brady had to be the one to give it to him because Max couldn’t use his hands again.

“You can move,” Brady blurted out, deciding all at once that Max had had enough of the mild torture. Brady obviously wanted to make him feel good. “C’mon. You don’t have to hold back.” His hand was all jerky as he tried to match up with the steady pace of his hips, but it was all still overwhelming him, but he couldn’t imagine Max minded much because he was touching him regardless. “Fuck. So... so good, baby.” Brady reached out blindly with his free hand and it ended up at Max’s wrists again, which were of course already restrained, but Brady pressed against them further anyway. He was desperately hanging on at this point, wanting to draw it out. He wanted Max to come first. But he had made a promise right in the beginning, and he wasn’t willing to completely drop the game yet. “I can’t wait to make you come.” He swallowed, throat stinging from how dry it was. “You gotta ask me. If you want to.” He slowed his hips just slightly, not enough to be entirely noticeable, but enough to be sure he held himself back long enough. His hand didn’t change, though, stroking Max’s cock quickly, threatening to make him come undone any second. Not before he asked. “Do you need to come, Max?”

Max was overwhelmed with frustration as Brady pulled out of him again, but at least this time it was for a good cause. Max’s hands, still clenching the sheets below him tightly, finally loosened up the moment Brady grabbed the tie again. His heart continued to thrum heavily in his chest as he tried so hard to be patient. Max felt possessed, blinded by everything he was experiencing at present moment. He let his hands once more be guided to the bed frame, breathing in sharply as the tie was tightened even moreso than before. Not because it was too tight, but because it was startling how much he liked feeling it. He couldn’t look away from Brady when he did it; Max wasn’t sure what was hotter. The fact that Brady was doing all of this to begin with, or that he was just as into this as he was. Max nodded dumbly before realizing he had to use his words. “It’s good,” he murmured out, and that was one hell of an understatement. His mind was frazzled; he felt like a complete mess and it was only made worse by the fact that now he couldn’t move his hands again. Especially now that it was tighter, and that knowledge alone went straight to his cock. Finally, finally, Brady pushed back into him. And hopefully for good this time, because Max wasn’t sure how much torture he could take. Although God knew he liked everything Brady was giving him right now. The stretch of Brady’s cock inside him was addicting; he’d missed it too much even if he’d tried so hard not to think of him this way. He’d missed being this close to him in general; seeing his reactions and hearing the sounds he made. It had been kind of difficult to see Brady as just his friend when he could vividly remember the way his face looked when he was about to come. And now here Max was, making things even worse for himself. Because now he knew he wouldn’t be able to forget this either; Brady looking just as out of control as Max felt. But that didn’t matter right now. Max was living in the moment, fueled by now unrestrained lust as they got closer and closer to the edge. And just when Max was sure he couldn’t be any more turned on, or that this situation couldn’t get any harder, the ‘good boy’ that fell from Brady’s lips proved him wrong. Another wrecked moan sounded throughout the room; overwhelmed by Brady’s words and Brady finally giving his cock the attention Max had wanted so badly.

His eyes closed of their own accord, fingertips digging into his palms as his hands jerked against the restraints once again - but this time they didn’t go as far. “Fuck, Brady,” was all he could say as his friend gave him permission to move. And fuck if he didn’t listen automatically. His body practically jerked at the instruction not to hold back, feet planting against the mattress below them as he angled his hips upwards just a bit - trying to meet Brady’s thrusts as though he could handle more. But he was so, so unbearably close. The hand stroking his dick at an uneven pace was making his brain go numb, and all he could think about was Brady and how bad he wanted them both to come. He needed it - needed some sort of release before he died of frustration. Brady’s words and the tone of his voice made him all the more crazy for it, hearing him calling him baby in that tone was almost too much for him at that moment. He wanted to come; was so close to coming. But he was fighting it off with all of his restraint, still trying to play along and do what Brady wanted even if it was borderline painful at this point. His head fell forward, face a breath away from Brady’s as he breathed in heavily. “Please, Daddy.�� He wasn’t thinking. Wasn’t thinking about how he sounded or his words. Just that he was trying to plead with him; saying the first things that rolled off of his tongue because he was that far gone. “I need to come.” As his hips rolled down, his body felt strained. His whole body ached now; so close to what he wanted. “Need you to make me come. Come on.” His words became more and more desperate; louder. “Make me come?” He paused again, trying to steady his breathing though it was no use. “Wanna see you come too.”

If Brady thought Max’s pleas were hot before, they were only heightened now that they were both right there on the edge. Brady was so fucking close he couldn’t quite keep up a steady rhythm anymore. His face twisted into an expression of pure concentration, focusing on keeping it together while he listened to Max speak. And dammit, it was enough; it had to be enough, because Brady couldn’t hold on any longer. “Fuck. Yeah. Yeah, I want you to come.” He stopped attempting to hold back then, hips snapping forward in a ridiculously irregular rhythm as he pressed into him just a few more times. “Right now. Let me see you come for me.” He just managed to get the words out before his hips finally stilled and the hand on Max’s wrists tightened around them as his entire body tensed. His groan as he came was absolutely way too loud, but he couldn’t care less. “Jesus, Max, fuck.” It took a good few moments before Brady’s vision came back and he was able to relax all of his muscles. His hand continued to stroke him until Max started to come back down too. Brady sat up straight and both of his hands dropped to his sides as he started to catch his breath. He looked down at the sight below him, of Max still tied up, now with his own come on his stomach and chest, and Brady couldn’t help but smirk.

But his brain was also starting to come back to him beyond the overpowering cloud of lust, so the first thing he did was pull out slowly and reach for the tissues. Max’s hands were still bound as Brady quietly cleaned up the mess, disposing of the condom with the tissues, all with a clear look of amusement mixed with satisfaction on his face. He finally broke the silence when he made his way toward the head of the bed. “You’re lucky I’m not super fuckin’ extra,” Brady told him, reaching for the tie so he could start to loosen it. “Because if I was, I might have just left you tied up here for later.” He would never be able to actually do that, but he wasn’t wrong in saying that he might if he were just a little more ballsy, or into that sort of thing. In reality, he wasn’t, so he untied Max’s wrists and freed him from his restraint once and for all. Brady let the tie fall to the bed. “Talk about hot as fuck.” Brady adjusted his position so he could lie back on the bed beside Max, both arms coming up behind his head. They’d never really gone that far before, so while Brady didn’t want to overstep any boundaries they were trying to set here, he knew it was still important to make sure they were both good with what had just happened. He turned his head to look at Max. “You all good?” He could never be too sure, even when Max had clearly been much more than good just a few short minutes ago. “That was kinda...new.” He smirked again. “Can’t say it was an unwelcome birthday gift.”

The sound and sight of Brady finally letting go made his own experience all the more powerful. Max’s body seized up as he finally started to come, hands tugging against the tie even harder than before. He came, harder than he could remember ever coming before. All the pressure, all the tension that had been building up in him was finally being released. He arched his back, hips jerking upwards into Brady’s uneven strokes. “Fuck. Fuck.” His breaths came out in harsh pants as his moan, loud and drawn out like never before, sounded throughout his friends room. He laid there for a moment as Brady cleaned them up, breathing in deeply in attempt to steady his labored breathing and the uneven beating of his heart. He felt a little wild still; a little out of his mind with how intense that just was. Jesus. He wasn’t sure how Brady could be so normal after that. It took Max a few moments longer to recover; eyes closing automatically as he gained control of himself. “Little serial killer-y. But hot.” He breathed as he opened his eyes; tried to joke and be his normal self to the comment about leaving him there.

But the urge to just close his eyes press himself close was there; to roll over and lay directly on top of him, almost obnoxiously, like he had previously gotten used to doing. He just wanted to stay there with him until his bones felt less like jelly and more like normal. But he refrained from doing that last time, and he’d do the same now. Especially now, after they’d talked things through. Max swallowed back the urge to say something, and instead slowly sat up after he came down some more. He took in one final breath as he officially came back down to earth. “Yeah, man, I’m good.” One of his hands rubbed over his wrists, feeling the phantom pressure of the tie over his skin. It didn’t hurt; none of it was bad at all. He almost wanted to laugh at the question, but he knew Brady was just making sure he was alright. And it was sweet.(edited)But obviously he was more than good. He practically had to bite his tongue to stop himself from telling him how much; stop himself from being a little too extra and just basking in the moment with him. So he stopped, took another deep breath, and shrugged a shoulder. One of his hands came up to ruffle his hair, and he glanced at Brady. Max wasn’t sure what kind of demon possessed him at that moment, but seeing Brady stretched out next to him so casually after literally fucking him out of his mind did something to his brain.

Not stopping this particular impulse, he reached out to pinch Brady on the stomach firmly before patting the spot gently and rolling to the side of the bed. Max ducked down to retrieve his boxers. He half-smirked despite himself. “Yeah. Real hot. Happy Birthday, Brady.” He stood up, legs feeling wobbly as fuck and damn he was sore. But he tugged up his boxers and looked back at him easily enough. “Just so you know. You get twenty-one more of those today. Won’t tell you when. It’s tradition.” One that he was making up right now. And he hesitated, knowing he should just leave. But this wasn’t like last time where it was fueled by anger; this was Brady’s birthday of all the days too. And while they’d talked and agreed on boundaries and while it was clear this was just a friends with benefits situation for Brady, he still cared about making sure he knew Max wasn’t just being an asshole about it. Max deep down knew he was just making excuses to be close, but today it didn’t really matter. He’d already crossed one line. Several, actually.

So he stopped and turned, leaning forward and lifting one knee onto the mattress as he crawled towards Brady. He steadied himself with one hand while his other raised to cup his face. He looked at him, briefly, before closing the gap and kissing him deeply. He hadn’t gotten to much when he was tied up, not as much as he would have liked. And he also wanted to let him know he wasn’t leaving because he was mad or anything else. He flicked his tongue over his bottom lip before catching it between his teeth and tugging lightly. He dropped the hand before he was leaning his head back, letting it fall to Brady’s waist. And right when Max was about to pull away, he pinched him on the side again, this time lightly. He broke away with a small grin, feeling a stirring in his chest despite his brain knowing he was being dumb. “Just kidding.” His slid his hand down his torso and to his hip before it fell away completely. “Twenty more to go.” With that, Max was lifting himself up and standing once more. This time, he headed for the door, and for the first time after thinking clearly realized how loud they’d been. God he hoped she wasn’t awake. Explaining that one would be awkward. “Try to get some sleep. Before your party.” He said, although it wasn’t really like Brady to take that advice. “And I’ll try my best not to wake you up again.” He tossed another half-smile back at him and carefully pulled open the door, set to sneak back to his room as quietly and carefully as he could.

#CANON #happy birthday bradford #current verse #011

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braxarchives · 3 years

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Safety Blanket ― CANON. (current verse)

Max’s emotions and insecurities finally reach a boiling point. They come erupting out in surprising ways, and in the process Brady has to learn to confront his own feelings. NSFW.

Things were… weird. Of course they were. Brady hadn’t expected anything less after he and Max had had their whole thing a couple weeks ago. It wasn’t like they could pretend all of it never happened, but they also didn’t seem anywhere closer to talking about it. They had to put all of it aside, though. Max still needed a cameraman, after all. So Brady would pick up his camera as usual, but there was a lot less of their usual lighthearted bickering. In fact, Brady wasn’t sure they’d done that at all in a while, at least not naturally. He’d definitely been trying to fake it for the camera so that no one would notice much of a difference. In any case, when the camera wasn’t recording, things were just plain weird. And ridiculously tense. Brady hadn’t realized how accustomed he had gotten to just touching Max and ending up in one of their beds until that wasn’t a thing anymore. He would think about it, then remember all that had gone down, the fact that they weren’t doing that anymore on top of the anxiety he felt about having let things go too far, and he had to force himself to forget it. Rinse and repeat every fucking time he and Max crossed paths over the last two weeks. Which was a lot, considering they lived together.

The tension was annoying, mostly, but it wasn’t like they were straight up ignoring each other, or even being particularly aggressive. It was almost like they were just roommates who barely tolerated each other, rather than best friends. Brady kind of hated the whole dynamic in the apartment, but he knew it was up to them to fix it. Or him, more accurately. When he was ready to talk. That day wasn’t today, even when he walked into the kitchen and found Max there and felt immediately on edge. Brady nodded at him to acknowledge that he was there, then made a beeline for the fridge. He was set on getting his leftovers from a couple of nights ago and then going to put on a movie. Except…he didn’t see said leftovers when he opened the fridge. His name had clearly been on the container. “Dude,” Brady said, looking over his shoulder at Max. “Did you eat my fuckin’ wings? There were like six left. The fuck, bro?”

After their fight a couple weeks back, Max had admittedly been keeping his distance. It wasn’t like he was intentionally trying to avoid Brady… it was just easier for them both this way. At least until Max got over himself and moved on from… whatever it was he was feeling. Their usual banter on and off camera had been painfully forced, and maybe it was his fault for not being 100% up for it lately, but it still sucked. He wanted so badly just to go back to normal, but every time he looked at Brady now, his stomach would still flip. Only, now it was accompanied by a hot rush of embarrassment, and he was brought back to reality again. Max pushed for too much from him, and it made things weird with his best friend. And while that was the last thing he wanted, he honest to God couldn’t help his brain from shutting down a little whenever they would interact. Because the truth was, he still felt a little wounded from the whole ordeal.

He barely looked up as Brady walked into the kitchen, nodding in return. His laptop was in front of him on the table as he sat perched with one of his elbows resting on the surface. But he didn’t turn back to him; didn’t smile or make a joke. He just minded his own business. Which truthfully is what he probably should have been doing from the start. Max wasn’t expecting Brady to say anything to him, really. So when he did, he lifted his head to see what was up. “Nah dude. Didn’t eat your crap.” Max rolled his eyes and glanced back at his laptop, busying himself at the screen. “I threw them out. They were getting little fuzzy spots on them. Sorry.” Max shrugged, and normally when he tried to tease it would be obvious, but his tone wasn’t quite up to par. “Didn’t know you wanted that for seasoning.”

Brady almost wanted to say that he didn’t believe him when he claimed not to have eaten them, but Max seemed pretty serious about having thrown them out. And honestly, that was worse. He could have at least let him know first. “God dammit.” Brady shut the fridge door and rolled his eyes right back. This was one of the bigger disappointments of his life recently. “Gimme a freakin’ head’s up next time. Or just worry about your own shit.” Was he being a little over the top about leftover wings? Yes. Was he going to stop being dramatic about it? Absolutely not. Truthfully, something in Max’s tone was off today. Brady couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He was torn between thinking it wasn’t his business, and thinking it totally was because Max was still supposed to be his best friend. The biggest issue from the very beginning had been making sure that didn’t get ruined. So dammit, Brady was going to see to it that their friendship remained intact, even in its current slightly fucked up state. “What’s up with you today?” he asked as he directed his attention toward one of the cabinets instead, reaching for a box of mac and cheese. He would just have to settle for now. “Maybe I’m just goin’ crazy but you don’t seem all that happy to see me.”

“You got it. Next time I’ll just let you eat moldy wings.” He should have maybe told him, like he usually did, but this time it hadn’t really crossed his mind. Which was a little weird and he knew it, because usually he told Brady everything and didn’t think twice about it. Max sighed and sat up a little straighter in his chair; he wasn’t trying to be off with him. He was just a little off in general today. “Just a little stressed out, but I’ll be fine, man. Just a bad day. It’ll be all good tomorrow.” He turned his head to look at him pointedly. “Jeez didn’t know I had to entertain you every time you walk into a room. What d’you want? A welcome party?”

Brady rolled his eyes again, and it was weird that it wasn’t particularly comforting or reassuring like it was typically. Usually it meant things were as normal as ever between them. But now there was genuine annoyance behind it. And that sucked pretty hard. Max said it was a bad day and while Brady stayed focused on finding a pot to fill with water to cook his pasta, it still registered with him. He wondered what was going on, but wasn’t sure if Max was going to want to tell him. And a likely selfish, admittedly still anxious part of Brady wondered if he had anything to do with it. So he didn’t ask because he didn’t want to have that conversation. “Yeah, here’s hopin’.” He put he pot on the stove and turned it on, shrugging with his back still to Max. “From you? Depends what kinda welcome party you’re talkin’ about.” He knew he shouldn’t be joking about shit like that. But it was his default when he didn’t want to get real with Max. He supposed he couldn’t help himself.

The conversation was short; clipped. Max wasn’t helping matters, he supposed, by not elaborating more. He just really wasn’t sure how to talk to him again yet, since they’d been so weird around each other. And it was mostly his own fault, but it just sucked because Max missed his friend. He smiled slightly, and it didn’t feel genuine, but he was trying. “Just YouTube drama. The puppy hasn’t been lettin’ me sleep. And Ratthew’s sick again. Just small things.” And things he didn’t want to get into right now. He was about to say something more, something that bordered on normal for them. But then Brady had to go and say that. And he tensed a little bit, the reply flying off his tongue before he could censor himself. “How about the kind where I leave the room and you can have your own damn party?” He looked at him over his shoulder, and this is where he tried to sound like he was joking. “I’ll put on some music for you an’ your hand to enjoy together.”

“YouTube drama,” Brady repeated, nodding firmly. He wasn’t sure what exactly that meant but he knew enough from doing this with Max for so many years that it was probably something stupid. YouTubers weren’t always very understanding people. “Puppy hasn’t been letting me sleep either.” And it was a joint decision, yeah yeah, whatever. Brady would get over it. “Do rats go to the vet?” he asked. He couldn’t remember what had happened last time he’d been sick, but he knew it probably made Max feel as shitty as Brady felt when it was Draco, so he was gonna try to be mindful of that. Max’s reply had Brady turning away from the stove with his eyebrows raised, surprised at his response. It didn’t feel like the usual playful kind and sort of threw him off. “Damn.” Brady shook his head, leaving the water to heat up on the stove and moving closer to the table where Max sat. He remained by to the counter, though, leaning back against it and crossing his arms over his chest as he faced him. “Tell me how you really feel.” He didn’t want to push his buttons, but it was easy for him to feel all bitter and resentful that things were so weird between them. It felt like they were both kind of trying but it wasn’t exactly working. And Brady just had that fleeting moment of wondering again why Max had to go and say anything. Which wasn’t fair, he knew. But he couldn’t help thinking it. “You don’t gotta be like that, bro. We have fun here.”

He’s glad he didn’t have to over explain himself about the YouTube thing. Few people would understand just from that, but Brady had been with him long enough to know the ins and outs. “Yeah, I’m taking him to the doctor tomorrow. Might bring Emmie along. It’s just a respiratory thing but she knows more about that stuff than I do.” Plus, moral support. She always did have the same love of rats as he did, if not moreso. As the conversation shifted from weird to weirder, Max realized that he’d maybe slipped up too much. But that comment got to him more than it should have; reminded him of things they were both currently trying to forget. So he was just a little bit defensive. But he wasn’t trying to be a complete asshole. He just felt… off. Uncomfortable, like he didn’t know how to act around him right now. So he was saying the first things to come to mind, blurting them out as they came. But part of him knew Brady could handle it. “‘We?’” He echoed with a raise of his eyebrows and leaned back in his chair, so aggressively that it tilted back a little, but his hands holding onto the table stopped him from going too far. His eyes deliberately looked at the empty space behind Brady, and he made a show of looking around. “Didn’t know someone else was here. Guess I’ll leave you to it, then.” He sighed and closed his laptop and standing up, kind of joking but also fully planning on going to his room. He looked at him as he stretched. “Enjoy your Mac n Cheese bro. Don’t worry. I won’t be throwing anymore leftovers away.”

“Lemme know how it goes, I guess.” Brady watched Max’s reaction, quirking an eyebrow in a mix of confusion and amusement. He wasn’t sure what sort of game Max was playing, or if he was even playing one at all. Brady had never really seen him like this before, honestly. Even when Max had had bad days throughout their time of knowing each other, Brady had never seen him be so… sassy. It was super obnoxious. For a moment he considered the fact that that was how he sounded, like, all the time. But Brady being some level of aloof was fairly expected of him at this point. The fact that he was getting it from Max just because he couldn’t give him what he needed right now was frustrating. They weren’t like this. They didn’t get on each other’s nerves just by being in the same room. But that was exactly what had been going on lately and Brady hated that things had to be all weird. Max standing up to walk away from him just like that was genuinely irritating. Brady rolled his eyes and dropped his arms to his side as Max started to stretch. “Okay,” Brady said simply, pushing himself off the counter. He had learned over the past few months how to shut Max up, and right now he wanted to do that more than ever. Old habits were hard to break, as it turned out, because Brady knew it was a bad idea, just like he had known it the very first time, when he came face to face with Max and grabbed him by the wrist, pulling him in so he could press his lips against his, hard. He had no idea how this was going to go. And maybe he’d regret it in just a few short seconds. But dammit, he was getting tired of this weird tension, and he was just agitated enough to say fuck it and do something about it.

Max just wanted to go to his room to get away from this weird tension. It was so strange to live with someone who you just had a sort-of-fight with. Max didn’t have a chance to fully process it, because everywhere he turned Brady was there. Not only did they live together, they worked together. Max was realizing now how messy he’d made things by saying what he did to Brady. But on the same hand, now he could get those thoughts out of his head once and for all and move on. Max would get over himself, eventually. He knew nothing would make him want to stop being Brady’s friend. Right now, though? He wanted to get the hell out of there.

But he didn’t even have a chance to grab his laptop before Brady was tugging him in by his wrist and kissing him like that. Immediately, Max’s thoughts went blank, just like they always freakin’ did when Brady and him were like this. Instinctively, Max began to kiss him back, lips moving against his before he could realize what he was doing. But after a few moments, Max shook his head. His hands found Brady’s chest, and he pushed him back enough for the kiss to break. “Fuck you.” He said quietly, not understanding what Brady was playing at here. But they were so close, faces just a breath apart. He just stared at him for a moment, a whirlwind of different emotions coursing through him. Mostly, Max was beyond frustrated, because he wanted to keep kissing him. That urge alone woke something up in him. His frustration boiled up, and suddenly he wasn’t in charge of his own actions.

A chant of ‘I shouldn’t be doing this’ ran through his mind as his hands twisted in Brady’s shirt, tugging him back to him despite the way he’d just pushed him away, eyes burning into his as he did. “What exactly do you want from me here Brady?” His voice was low; unrecognizable to his own ears. Max’s gaze dropped to Brady’s lips, but he didn’t kiss him like he wanted to. Like he would have before everything went to hell. Instead, he dropped his lips down to the side of his neck, not nearly as careful as he would have been normally. His teeth grazed his skin, sucking the spot briefly. But then he let go, breath fanning over Brady’s neck while he spoke. “Don’t wanna be playin’ games with you.”

Brady knew he had gone a little over the top here, but Max shoving him away and talking to him like that was entirely unexpected. Brady swayed where he stood a little but didn’t look away from Max’s face. Something had to give here, and since Brady had been the one to go for it in the first place, he wasn’t sure it was his call to say what happened next. He didn’t need to do anything, though, because before he could Max pulled him forward by his shirt. Brady held his gaze and fuck, Max was kinda pissed at him. Maybe it shouldn’t have been that hot, but…it was. “You know what I want.” Brady tilted his head back instinctively when he felt Max’s lips and teeth on his neck. He raised his hands to Max’s waist, pulling his body closer like he’d done a hundred times before. Jesus, this was probably the worst idea in the world. But Brady and Max were no strangers to giving in to how badly they wanted each other despite the consequences. “Shut the fuck up,” Brady told him quietly, his jaw tense. He wasn’t playing games and he showed it by dragging Max closer, pressing into him and sliding a hand up under the back of Max’s shirt. “You know you missed this.” He angled his head so he could pull Max’s earlobe between his teeth, and stayed close after he let go. “Still think about me fucking you every time you look at me?” Okay, so he kind of wanted to push him a little bit now. He was on a tightrope and he knew it, and Max could push him off at any moment. But Brady was holding out hope that Max was equally as blinded by desire to forget about the aftermath.

Max didn’t know what he was doing. Which, encapsulated most of his life, but particularly about Brady. His head was screaming at him to stop what he was doing and just walk away, but the rest of him was telling him otherwise. Because despite the weirdness, Max still wanted him, and he had a hard time controlling that apparently. “Do I?” He murmured, lips bumping against Brady’s neck. Max let his tongue brush over the spot he’d just given attention to, pressing himself even closer as Brady brought him in. The shut the fuck up only spurred him on; the tone of Brady’s voice encouraging him even if it should be sending him running. But the hand sliding up the back of his shirt was telling him to stay, and whatever resolve Max still had was broken. The fact of the matter was that Max did miss this. Way more than he’d care to admit to even himself. A small sound rumbled in the back of his throat as Brady’s teeth tugged at his ear, and he used his own hands to slide down Brady’s torso, ending up at the hem of his shirt. His lips dragged down Brady’s neck, only stopping when he lifted his head to look at him. ”What makes you think I still think about you?” He evaded the question almost too easily. His voice felt gravelly and Max didn’t feel like himself; he felt mean and defensive but fuck if he didn’t still want this. And that much was probably painfully apparent to Brady despite his words. His lips suddenly felt dry, and he licked them as he tugged Brady’s shirt roughly up and over his head. “Think it’s you who’s been thinking about me.” He breathed as his hands dropped to Brady’s belt, desperate to get his clothes out of the way and touch more of him. He leaned in close to his ear, brushing his nose against it as he spoke quietly to him. “Since I’m the best you’ve ever had.” If Brady was gonna throw things he said in his face, hell, right now he was petty enough to do the same.

“The fact you’re still here,” Brady replied, his eyes slipping shut at the mere sound of Max’s voice. He couldn’t believe the side of him that he was seeing. Brady knew it was only because shit was so bad between them, so he should have probably been upset about it, but the frustration between the two of them was fuel to the fire. Brady just wanted more. Brady let his shirt be pulled off and then looked right at Max, watching his hands immediately fall to his pants. “Never said I wasn’t.” Brady still stared at him, borderline challenging, waiting to see what Max would do without Brady directing him one way or another. For perhaps the first time since this whole thing between them started, he was willing to relinquish control if it meant seeing Max like this. The mere thought of it sent a chill down his spine. It didn’t, however, stop him from pressing his fingers against Max’s skin, maybe with a bit too much force, but Max didn’t usually seem to mind, and he figured especially not now. “You are,” Brady said with a smirk, intent on not giving Max the satisfaction of getting under his skin like that. So if he admitted it all himself, Max wouldn’t have the chance. “I’ve been fucking dying to touch you again.” Brady slid his hand up to Max’s hair, pulling it back to bring Max’s lips away from his ear so he could look him in the eye. “Since I’m your best ever too.” Brady brought their lips together again, his hand still tightly holding a fistful of Max’s hair to keep him right where he wanted him. “But if you want me to stop…” he said quietly between kisses, his free hand hooking a finger into Max’s belt loop in a desperate attempt to bring their hips even closer, but without accidentally forcing Max’s hands away from his belt. “I’ll stop.”

This whole situation didn’t seem real. It was hazy and weird and happening so quickly. Max wasn’t thinking, at all - and he should really know better by now. But he truly and honestly couldn’t bring himself to care. He was just so - frustrated. Angry at their weirdness, hurt by the situation. Annoyed by Brady’s fucking smugness. That last bit was usually a huge turn on, but right now it just got under his damn skin. Which, coincidentally, was also fuckin’ turning him on. The fingers biting into his skin were familiar; the grip stinging just the right amount. And right now he hated that he’d missed the feeling of Brady’s hands on him so much. “Aw. Sounds really hard for you.” He replied as his hair was pulled back, causing a pleasurable chill to roll down his spine, and he couldn’t help the way he bit his lip and automatically brought his body closer. The way Brady would grab onto his hair always drove him crazy, and the press of his lips to his was always addicting to him. Too bad Max didn’t really wanna make out and stare into his eyes right now. Before he would have been all for it, but now it just kind of made his chest hurt and his defenses fly up. Max’s hands still worked to remove Brady’s belt, not pulling away from the kisses because he didn’t want to be a complete jerk. But he made a point to deepen them; to kiss him harder before they were breaking away. At his urging, Max’s hips pressed firm against Brady’s, giving away the fact that he was already half-hard. He rolled against him the best he could without stopping himself from his task, before finally freeing the belt and tossing it to the ground where Brady’s shirt already laid. “Brady?” He mumbled, eyes darting back up to his briefly so he could see how serious he was. Max grabbed onto his waist firmly, thumbs grazing his sides, before backing him up and turning to press him against the counter. He dipped his head in toward him, mouth so close to his. “Shut the fuck up.”

He knew that was usually his move, but right now, Max literally couldn’t care less. He was so desperate for something; to touch him even if this was a bad idea. But there was no way he was going to let himself get all wrapped up again and make things even weirder between the two of them, so today he was going to do things his way. With that, he pressed one hand to his friends stomach with one hand, keeping him pressed against the counter, while he gave his pants a rough tug with the other. Max let him go to drag them down over and off his legs, lowering himself to drop down onto his knees in front of him in the process. He ripped his own shirt off of his head, throwing it into their haphazard pile. Not wasting any time, he gripped Brady’s hip in one hand, and looked up at him pointedly as he leaned in to mouth a kiss over the front of his boxers. He had half a mind to just go for it, but he got a better idea, and stopped abruptly. His own smugness was shining through this time, because he knew Brady wanted him like this. That much was obvious. “Do you want to stop? ‘Cause I’ll leave right now.” He meant it, too. “Not sure if you want it enough.”

Brady rolled his eyes when Max told him to shut up. But he couldn’t pretend it wasn’t still turning him on a ridiculous amount — Max talking to him like this. He let himself be backed against the counter, his hands instinctively flying back to brace against it and hold himself up. Max all but yanked down Brady’s pants and his own shirt and it made Brady a little dizzy. It had only been two weeks, but that was two weeks too fucking long since he’d seen Max on his knees in front of him like this, and the fact that he was giving him such a hard time just added to the anticipation. The feeling of his mouth caused Brady to drop his head back, groaning almost embarrassingly loud. He supposed he hadn’t realized just how much he had missed this until he was reminded of what it actually felt like all over again. “Now you need to shut up again,” Brady muttered, bringing his head back down to look at Max. “I’m not gonna fucking beg you, Cameron.” Brady needed it, though. He really fucking did. He had gone too long without feeling every inch of Max, but he wasn’t desperate enough quite yet to stoop that low. Still, he reached down to pull down his own boxers. “You just said you don’t wanna play games,” Brady pointed out, pushing the fabric down to his ankles and leaning back to place his hands against the counter again. “So cut the shit.“ He watched his face carefully. He knew Max was genuinely pissed and probably wasn’t kidding about stopping, but Brady was willing to take the risk. “Come on, Max.” One of his hands threaded through Max’s hair, not pushing him, but he gripped it just tight enough to urge him on. Brady swallowed, his throat dry, and got the closest he might ever get to begging as he said, “You know how much I fuckin’ want it. C’mon.”

Max felt a smug sense of satisfaction at the groan that escaped Brady. Hearing him react to what he was doing was always one of his favorite things. It just reminded him that he was the one making Brady feel this way. And despite how pissed he was right now, he couldn’t help but still feel proud about that. However, seeing Brady pull his boxers down quickly distracted him. The way Brady told him to shut up and grasped tightly onto his hair went straight to his dick; and his automatic instinct was to just give him what he wanted. Because fuck, Max wanted him too. And having his hands in his hair and hearing him being so demanding was always really fucking hot, but right now it just further annoyed him. If Brady wanted this to just be sex, he was gonna give him that. Max rose a hand up to grasp onto Brady’s wrist, tugging it up and out of his hair, pulling his arm to pin it against the counter behind Brady. “No, I don’t wanna play your games.” He said, and his voice was sharper than he meant for it to be. “I like mine just fine.” With that, Max wrapped the hand that wasn’t pinning Brady’s arm to the counter around his cock. His gaze was defiant, but truthfully he wasn’t strong enough to really and truly deny him. Brady’s dick was literally right in front of his face and he was painfully hard by this point. His grip around him was firm as he stroked him, before letting his hand grip the base of Brady’s cock. Almost too slowly, he was leaning in wrap his lips around him, tongue sliding easily along the length as he inched him into his mouth. He shifted on his knees, a small moan vibrating over Brady’s dick as he finally let himself do what they obviously both wanted. They’d been weird and Max knew on some level he shouldn’t be doing this, but he’d missed being able to touch him like this.

His hand stroked where his mouth wasn’t currently reaching, the hand on Brady’s wrist tightening as he set his own pace. He only flickered his gaze up at him when he began to slide him deeper into his mouth; inching him into his throat and humming deliberately just to see his face when he did. His hand fell away from his dick to grasp tightly into his hip, steadying him so he could do exactly what he wanted. And only once he was satisfied that Brady was really and truly into it, Max pulled his mouth away. “Say please.” He managed to say, breathing a little labored and throat raspy. He licked his lips and leaned back a little bit, and he couldn’t help but smirk, so different from his usual grin. Because he knew that he had the power here, and honestly he was fucking smug about it. He wanted Brady to be the one who wanted him so bad he couldn’t think. “Do it an’ I’ll let you fuck my mouth. Let you hold onto my hair and everything.” The words tumbled out, brain clouded by lust. “You want more? You’re gonna have to do better than just tellin’ me.” For once, Brady was going to have to ask him outright. And Max wasn’t settling.

Brady’s instinct was to try to pull his hand away from Max’s hold. He wasn’t exactly used to Max holding him down like this. But Max was probably stronger than he was, or deep down Brady didn’t particularly want to pull his hand away after all, because Max’s hold around his wrist remained tight. Brady had to remind himself to trust him. And he did. Even if right now was the worst time to put all of his faith in Max to give him what he wanted, given the circumstances. He stayed quiet, though, and eventually Max gave in. Brady moaned instantly, his eyes fluttering closed until Brady forced them back open. He had wanted this so badly again and dammit, he was going to watch. Max looked right back at him and hummed. Brady’s hips threatened to jerk forward, but he didn’t get much further than thinking about it before Max’s other hand raised to hold him in place. Brady let himself get lost in it; all of it, the way Max felt and the sounds he made and all the things Brady had been desperate for since they’d stopped. He really did trust him, moreso than anyone else, and even when things were so fucking weird and tense between them Brady allowed himself to remember that as his eyes closed again, unable to fight it this time. If anyone else were trying to hold Brady down like this, he’d be trying much harder to break free.

And if anyone else tried to pull the shit Max was pulling right now, sliding his mouth off of Brady’s cock as he leaned back in one swift moment, he might have lost his patience. He looked down at him, mouth hanging open comically in disbelief. “Seriously?” Brady asked breathlessly. He had never been more annoyed with Max in his life, and that was saying something. Smug bastard. Brady’s pride told him not to give in, to find a way to regain the upper hand like always and get what he wanted in his own way. But Max was so different today from how Brady had ever seen him before and…he was lowkey worried it wouldn’t pay off. Brady ran his free hand through his hair and sighed heavily, closing his eyes again. “I fucking—” He stopped, shaking his head. “Please,” he finally said, eyes reopening to meet Max’s. “Fucking hell, Max. C’mon, please.” He hadn’t expected to be reduced to this, but god fucking dammit. Things were never so simple with Max. At least he had held up his end of the deal and given Max what he wanted, so Brady yanked his hand free to bring both up to hold tightly to Max’s hair. And when he had the go ahead, his hips rocked forward, another loud moan emitting from his throat as the warmth of Max’s mouth enveloped him again. As promised, Brady thrust into his mouth, jerkily until he managed to find some sort of rhythm, watching the mesmerizing slide of Max’s lips on his dick to match the way it felt. “Fuck yeah,” Brady choked out.

It was borderline embarrassing how soon Brady started to feel like he wasn’t going to be able to hold back. He squeezed his eyes shut, the movement of his hips becoming less rhythmic and going back to something much less controlled. A steady chant of curse words left his lips before he could stop them. As consumed as he was by Max Max Max, another sound managed to catch his attention, and Brady’s eyes flew open as he loosened his white-knuckled grip on Max’s hair. “Oh shit.” Brady ceased his movements and leaned back slowly, pulling Max off of him in the process. He carefully bent down to pull his boxers back up, regaining what he felt like was some semblance of dignity before rushing over to the stove. The water in the pot had boiled over. Brady had totally forgotten he was cooking. He quickly shut off the stove, noting his ragged breathing and the sweat that had slowly started to drip from his hair. Brady swiped the back of his hand across his forehead and then went back to where Max was. “We can do this your fuckin’ way,” Brady snapped, but still serious as ever. “I don’t give a fuck. But whatever the fuck it is we can’t do it here.”

Max and Brady might not have been seeing eye to eye over the past two weeks, but Max still knew his friend. He knew that he was stubborn; he knew that Brady liked having the upper hand. He knew that it was hard for him to let his guard down sometimes. He knew all of this, but he still wanted to get that one word out of him. Max didn’t know why it was so important that he bring Brady to that point, but it fucking was. Because he felt like he could, like Brady would let him if he played his cards right. And when Brady fucking said what he wanted him to in that wrecked tone of his, Max lost it. Time went by in a blur as he grasped onto either side of Brady’s hips, this time encouraging movement rather than stopping it. He relaxed his throat the best he could, struggling to remember to breathe through his nose as Brady took what was promised. And all he could focus on was how his best friend fucking looked and sounded as he lost all control, and Max couldn’t think. He just groaned into it; fully immersing himself in it, and he couldn’t stop watching him as he did it. Brady really was one of the most beautiful people he’d ever seen. But seeing him like this? It was next level, and Max wasn’t going to ever get this image out of his head. He gripped his hips tighter, pulling him in closer, guiding his thrusts because he could. He could feel him getting closer and closer and all he wanted was to see him completely lose it. To come undone because of him. But then as quickly as it started, Brady was up and gone. Max didn’t even rise from his spot on the floor immediately, just turned his head to stare after him. He felt possessed; the pot on the stove boiling over not even phasing him. His heart was still hammering in his chest and his eyes were blown wide. His hair was undoubtedly a wreck from the way Brady was tugging on it, and all he could fucking think coherently was that he’d never been this turned on in his whole life.

As soon as Brady turned back to face him, he was lifting himself off the floor and stalking towards him. It felt like he was on a mission, and suddenly maybe he was. Max breathed in sharply, licking his lips and still tasting Brady on them. His cock ached, still confined in his jeans, and he honest to God did not care in the slightest about the fact they could have set their apartment on fire. Max reached a hand out, fingertips dipping under the waist band of Brady’s boxers to tug him in closer. Brady was all sweaty and it shouldn’t have been as hot as it was. “Your room.” He finally said as he struggled to gain control of his breath and voice. He leaned in close, pressing a biting kiss to the side of his neck. “I’m fucking you.” His heart was racing at the thought, and he wondered if he was speaking clearly because his thoughts felt so muddled right now with how much he wanted him. “And you’re gonna like it so much it’s gonna be all you can think about when you look at me.” He tugged him hard towards him, and he told himself when this started that it was a bad idea to keep kissing on him. But right now he didn’t think twice about slamming their lips together in a rough kiss. It took all of his power to let go of him completely, turning his back on him to start making his way to their destination. And he knew with utmost certainty that Brady would follow.

Brady’s breath hitched as Max pulled him forward. He was so sensitive to every fucking thing Max was doing that the slightest movement made Brady’s brain all hazy. So it was no surprise that Max’s next words damn near knocked the wind out of him. How the fuck had Max Evans of all people reduced him to this? Brady didn’t want to think about it. He chalked it up to how unbelievably turned on he was, but he knew it had more to do with letting Max take total control for once, and the fact that Brady could trust him like that even when they weren’t particularly on good terms. Brady knew he had been selfish in a lot of ways he didn’t even want to admit, so it seemed only fair to let Max have his way this time around. Brady just hadn’t realized how much he could truly get behind it until Max started talking to him like that. Brady nodded, feeling dumb as fuck because he had no idea what to say. No usual sarcastic remark, no sassy response to Max’s words. He was so hard and so desperate to be under Max’s touch again that he simply couldn’t think. Brady instantly pressed his body against Max’s when he kissed him, and he was left leaning forward slightly as Max abruptly turned and walked away. Jesus Christ.

Brady trailed behind, anticipation and excitement flowing through him as they went. He couldn’t explain how hot it was as Max made his way into Brady’s own room. Brady closed the door behind them and then turned to look at him. Even through the weirdness and now this new side he had never seen before, Brady stopped to recognize that he was just looking at Max. The same Max he had known for three years, his best friend, someone who knew more about him than anyone else did. God, it was so fucking frustrating that things weren’t okay between them. The resentment bubbled up inside of Brady all over again as he stared at him, reminding him that this was all just because Brady wasn’t ready to open up. And it wasn’t Max’s fault either; he was hurt and Brady understood that. It just wasn’t enough to wipe away the bitterness between them. So instead Brady was going to let all of his frustrations manifest themselves in his desperation to touch Max again, and Max could take control of the situation however he saw fit. Lord knows Brady was into it, even if he never imagined he would be.

Still facing him from the door, Brady discarded his boxers once more. He certainly wasn’t going to be needing them from here on out. Instead of going to Max and kissing him like he might normally, Brady crossed right over to his bed, situating himself back against the pillows. “Well? What’re you waiting for, cowboy?” Brady prompted once he managed to find his snark again. Anticipation still coiled in the pit of his stomach as he watched Max and waited, but at least he was no longer standing there wordlessly, hopelessly waiting for anything to happen. Brady may not have the upper hand right now like he was used to, but he was still enjoying pushing Max a little, as he always did. “Come show me how it’s done.” Brady tilted his head, licking his lips. “Or did you wanna return the favor of fucking my mouth? Know how much you love that.”

Max didn’t know what had gotten into him, but he wasn’t in the right mind to question himself at all. He was just running on whims; the tension that had been circulating over the past weeks finally boiling up and over, just like Brady’s Mac ‘N Cheese water. Max was so desperate to touch him again, because despite his best efforts not to, he still couldn’t help but want him just as much as he did before their fight. It sucked, the situation sucked, but instead of being sad about it - Max was taking control of the situation, for once. Max ripped his own belt off on the way to Brady’s room, tossing it behind him right before he opened the door. He made eye contact with him as he yanked his pants and boxers down, shucking them off to the side. But he didn’t come over to Brady, now stretched out on the bed. Not yet. The familiar name cut through to his ears, and he fucking hated how it still sent a chill down his spine. Only Brady could call him Cowboy during sex; during whatever this was, and have him like it. Normally he didn’t care that he liked it so much; normally he embraced whatever Brady threw at him. But right now it only served to add fuel to the fire, because everything Brady did to remind Max of just how lost he’d let himself get lost in him was setting him off. “Waiting for when I’m good and fuckin’ ready, Bradford.” He snipped back, eyes trailing down his body, and he wanted to just go over there right now. Give him just what he was asking for. Max’s gaze drifted to his mouth, and he pictured what he was suggesting so clearly. He felt his cock stir at the thought alone. God. Max really did love that, and it took all his strength not to go over there and take him up on it. “You saying you want me to shut you up? I can do that.” He tried not to let onto how much he liked that idea, but the way his words hitched while he spoke probably gave him away. “But I can do that without my dick in your mouth. If you’re good I’ll show you.”

He wasn’t going to be that easy. He wasn’t going to let Brady control this right now. So he stood up straight, regaining the angry sort of confidence he’d somehow gained this evening. He walked over to the table besides Brady’s bed, yanking it open and grabbing out the lube and condoms so he wouldn’t have to stop what he was doing just for that. Max tossed them both on the bed next to Brady. He gave him a pointed look as he leaned down over him, hands pressing against the mattress on either side of him, effectively boxing him in. "These my condoms or did you finally buy your own for once?“ He’d never let onto the fact that he knew, because Max honestly didn’t care. But tonight he wasn’t holding any of his thoughts back. His tone was a little mocking before he brought his lips to Brady’s, the kiss a little too demanding. One of his arms fell down to wrap around Brady’s cock, giving it a couple of strokes while they kissed. Before it got too out of control, he leaned away and let go of him completely. "You really want this?” He fixed him with a serious look. Because as much as they were both clearly into this, he wasn’t going to do anything without his go ahead. “'Cause if you do.” He began, and his brain was all cloudy with a hundred different things he wanted to do. He felt kind of like he was malfunctioning, but trying so hard to hold it together. He couldn’t let Brady try to get the upper hand again, not right now. “You should get on your hands and knees for me.”

Brady wasn’t going to say it just yet, since Max was clearly getting a lot of his own satisfaction already, but how badly he wanted to reach out and drag Max onto the bed with him was borderline devastating. And maybe, if he tried, he would have won the battle, gaining control once again and getting just what he wanted from him. But Brady had to stop and think, where would be the fun in that? He’d never seen Max so aggressive before and was surprised by just how into it he was. He may as well just go with the fuckin’ flow. Brady swallowed, a smirk pulling at the corners of his lips but suppressed by how genuinely thrown off he was, still, by Max’s tone and the words he said. “I’ll be good,” Brady promised before he fully recognized the words he was saying. Christ, Max really was bringing out an entirely new side of him he’d truly never knew existed. Brady was so used to being the one who called the shots in every situation. It was weird to have someone he could completely let go with, someone he could let talk to him and direct him a certain way without feeling like he was making some sort of a mistake. Which, okay, maybe he was making a mistake sleeping with Max when they hadn’t taken the time to discuss anything going on, but what the fuck ever. Brady was far too horny at this point to think about it. The point was he could let himself give Max the reigns and still feel safe, and that certainly wasn’t nothing.

Max trapped him against the mattress and Brady just looked up at him, suddenly feeling smaller, but not hating it. “Fuck off,” Brady muttered, the smirk finally returning. “Yours are just closer sometimes.” Not that it had mattered within the past few months, given that they’d both been sharing with each other pretty evenly. The only times Brady had taken Max’s condoms recently were to fuck Max, so he was pretty sure he should stop complaining. One of Brady’s hands instinctively flew up to the back of Max’s neck as he kissed him hard. Brady wanted to hold him there, to keep him from doing his new thing and pulling away just when Brady wanted, needed it most. But he did just that, right when he caused Brady to lift his hips off the bed into his hand. Max left Brady wanting more and for a second he couldn’t believe that he had done this to Max multiple times before, yet he’d still come back for more. But then Brady considered the fact that he would very likely do this whole thing again too. Maybe that was just his aching cock thinking for him, but whatever.

Brady groaned, pushing himself up in his elbows to look at Max. He started speaking and Brady waited, listened, until Max made it clear what he wanted from him. Brady had had an idea when they’d made their way to his bedroom that Max would want to do things a certain way, so he couldn’t say he was necessarily surprised by Max wanting him to get on his hands and knees. And Brady… well, Brady wanted to do what the fuck Max told him to. What a concept. He didn’t argue or even particularly respond, just rolled over onto his side and then planted his hands on the mattress to get up onto his knees. He turned his head to look over his shoulder at Max, and holy fuck, Brady could feel warmth in his cheeks spreading down his neck and to his chest. Brady was fucking blushing. He thought he should be embarrassed, maybe even say fuck this and throw Max down on the bed to have his way with him. But, however surprising it was, Brady just wanted to wait. To let Max have his way with Brady. The thought of his kind, extremely generous friend continuing to speak to Brady in this far less than sweet tone to take what he wanted rather than giving was unbelievably fucking hot, mostly because Brady had to wonder if he was the only one who got this side of Max out of him; just like Max was the only person to see this less dominant part of Brady. The thought turned him on a ridiculous amount, despite the circumstances that brought them here. “Max,” Brady started, still looking at him from his new position on the bed. “I really fuckin’ need you. And I know how goddamn much you want me too. So…Jesus, dude. Please fucking do something.” A healthy mix of begging and demanding, Brady thought. He was going to have to find a happy medium between what Max wanted from him and what Brady was willing to offer in return if he was going to let himself relax and get used to giving himself over to Max like this.

Max almost didn’t expect Brady to go along with his request, but when he looked back at him after doing what he’d asked and said those words, Max had to take a moment to collect himself. The image of his face would forever be burned into his mind, he was sure, because he’d never seen him this earnest or borderline pleading about anything. And Max was the one to bring him to this point. Either Brady trusted him enough to just go along with it, or he was too turned on to care. Either way, his chest felt tight all of a sudden. Although, Max’s brain was literally not even in the equation anymore. He didn’t care at that moment how weird things had been between them, or how different they were being with each other right this very moment. He just knew he needed him really badly, even if he wasn’t going to let himself have that just yet. More than his own need to get some sort of physical gratification, he wanted to draw this out a bit more. He wanted Brady to completely lose his mind; to catch him off guard in a way that maybe no one had before. He wanted Brady to remember this. Pride and the overpowering need to prove himself to Brady took over him, and he finally crawled onto the bed beside him, coming up to hold Brady’s chin in his hand as he brought him in for another short kiss. “If that’s what you really want.” He said simply, pulling away, and for the first time that night he let himself visibly soften up. He ran a hand over the slope of his back, and kissed him once more before speaking quietly. “All you had to do was ask.”

Max pushed himself back, sitting up on his knees to for a moment. He swallowed as he let his eyes travel down the expanse of his form. Despite how angrily charged this encounter began, deep down he couldn’t help that familiar warmth from settling into his chest. And he was too worked up by all of this to really focus on it, but it wasn’t something he could just ignore every day like he had been doing and Max knew it. “You’re so fucking unbelievable,” he murmured as he pressed a kiss to his shoulder blade, not even thinking about his words. And he wasn’t even sure how he meant them right now anyway. “So hot like this.” Max made his way down his back, sucking small marks into his skin as he made his way down. His hands traveled down Brady’s sides as his lips glided down his back, his knees supporting him as he moved his own body downwards.

When he was where he wanted to be, Max’s breath caught in his throat. His hands slid over his ass, squeezing the flesh gently in his hands. Max knew Brady had just showered before they pushed each other to this, and even if they hadn’t hooked up in awhile, they were way past well accustomed to each others bodies now. There wasn’t an ounce of shyness left in him at this point, and he showed it by trailing kisses from his lower back and over his backside. He dragged his lips across the skin, before biting down gently, tugging at the flesh of Brady’s left cheek before letting it go. He suddenly felt that smugness rise up in him once more, something he wasn’t entirely used to, but right now he was embracing it. His hands squeezed tighter as he spread him open. “How’s this?“ He couldn’t help but edge him on as he leaned in, breath deliberately hovering over him for a moment. But it was only a moment, before Max let his tongue drag over him, almost a little too slowly. His hands still gripped either side of his ass, and he gave a few experimental flicks of his tongue, not going much further than that just yet. “This 'something’ enough for you?”

Brady took a deep breath, reminding himself to relax as Max slowly made his way down toward the end of the bed. Every touch and press of his lips on Brady’s skin was agonizing in the best way. He squeezed his eyes shut, focused on not tensing up because he knew what was coming. Max was unpredictable tonight, but Brady still knew him well enough to be able to tell where his mind was most of the time. He exhaled slowly, his body buzzing with anticipation as he awaited Max’s next move. Everything about the situation was uncharted territory for Brady, this especially. So he told himself once again that he could trust him. That was what mattered most at the moment. And it was the little mantra he had to keep repeating to himself as the feeling of Max’s lips and teeth and tongue completely threw him off. Brady’s breath caught in his throat. His arms threatened to give out for a moment until he regained his composure, staying steady where Max wanted him. That was the goal.

Brady had never done this, had never even really considered it, but the idea of Max wanting it and going for it was enough for Brady to further lose it. He let his head hang down as he groaned, fingers curling into the sheets below him. “Fuck,” he breathed out, hardly a response to Max’s question but one he was sure he would understand regardless. Max still seemed wary, probably because he wanted to make sure they were on the same page and feeling the same way about things. It was so Max. Brady reached a hand up to hold onto the headboard, pulling himself up a bit and giving himself just the right amount of leverage to rock back against his tongue, craving more in any fucking sense of the word. And Brady whimpered, the sound from his own throat causing him to grip tighter to the headboard and the bed below him. “Max, I—” He pressed his lips into a tight line, swallowing back a full on whine at the feeling of Max’s hands on his ass and his tongue working him open, as if it were the easiest thing in the world. “I need more,” he choked out, still surprised at how Max was turning him into such a mess. Brady was sure he had never been like this, or even close, during sex with anyone before. “Don’t… don’t tell me that’s all you got.” He gave himself a mental pat on the back every time he still managed to sound a little snarky tonight.

Brady twisted the hand on the bed into the sheets and shut his eyes tightly once more before both hands held the headboard, and Brady pulled himself forward a bit before completely twisting around to face Max. Even if he hadn’t like, told him to or whatever. Brady was desperate, made evident by his shallow breathing and the now very clear sheen of sweat. This was good, but it wasn’t enough. Brady’s cock was aching to be touched. What Brady cared more about in that moment, though, was that Max’s was too. “Let me suck your dick before you fuck me.” The words felt strange coming from him, more pleading than anything else, but Brady didn’t care, staring right at Max with a wide-eyed gaze. Brady reached for the lube and held it in his hand, figuring he could kill two birds with one stone if Max would let him do what he wanted. He swallowed thickly and realized what he was missing, what might help his case more than anything else; so he tacked on, “Please.”

Max couldn’t believe the sounds coming out of Brady’s mouth. They were addicting, and so unbelievably hot he couldn’t quite focus on everything he was giving him. The way he rocked back to meet his tongue as Max got braver and more insistent made him painfully aware of how much his own cock ached. He purposefully hadn’t touched himself yet, because he knew the moment he did he’d rush this. Brady was testing his patience every step of the way, though. But Max distracted himself by giving Brady more, working him open with his tongue and gripping onto him so tightly he was sure he was going to leave marks behind in his wake. He didn’t hold back then, wanting to pull more of those sounds out of him. He was so dead set on doing just that, that it took him a moment to realize Brady was flipping himself around. But once it sunk in, Max immediately straightened himself up, breathing a little heavy as he looked him over to make sure nothing was wrong. But one look at him told him all he needed to know. Fuck, he’d never seen that look on his face before or heard his voice quite like that. It made his heart pound in his chest so hard he could almost hear it in his own ears, and Max leveled with himself here. There was no way he could keep pushing this out; not when he wanted him this bad. “Fuck,” he said under his breath. The insistent please kept echoing through his mind and driving him crazy. His hand rose up to to push back the hair that was sticking to Brady’s forehead, feeling almost shaky as he did so. He didn’t think twice or mind the sweat, instead weaving his fingers into his hair. “Okay, yeah. Fucking suck my dick then.” He breathed as he gave his hair a small tug; letting go only as he leaned back. “What’re you waitin’ for?”

It was weird how Brady could feel totally out of his element, yet at the same time still comfortable enough to speak up and say things he usually only wanted to hear said to him. He almost felt like he had gone a little too far while Max just stared back at him, but then Max’s hand was in his hair and he was talking in that tone again, and Brady let out a breath as his eyes closed at the sensation. “You didn’t…” Brady trailed off, unsure of just how much he was going to manage to get out right now. He shook his head. It was easier to talk like that with Max leading him into it, he found. So he just reopened his eyes, licked his lips, and moved to a better position as Max lay back on the bed. He still had the lube in his hand, and he kept it there while his free hand wrapped around Max’s cock. Jesus, it was almost embarrassing how much he had missed touching him. Brady didn’t want to waste any time, but he was still Brady. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to Max’s inner thigh, too close but not close enough to where he wanted him. Then he did the same on the other side, and he knew he shouldn’t push it, but that was what he always did. So his eyes flickered up at Max as he gave him a smirk.

He couldn’t play that game for long, though. Brady was desperate and Max knew it as well as he did. He wrapped his lips around just the head of his cock, then slowly slid down because he wanted to savor the feeling all over again. Brady moaned as he took more of him into his mouth, knowing Max wanted this just as much as he did, and that was the hottest part of it all. Brady didn’t bother taking his time, immediately finding a quick pace with his mouth and hand and letting his tongue slide along the underside of Max’s cock with each movement. He fucking loved this. He always had loved making Max feel good, apparently like no one else could, but all of that was heightened now that it was truly all this was. They weren’t in a great place emotionally, but they couldn’t physically keep away from each other. And it was really fucking hot.

It wasn’t long before Brady decided he couldn’t take it anymore. He pulled his mouth and hand away so he could sit back and snap open the lube in his hands. He could have let Max decide how this was going to go, but Brady still liked having some semblance of control. And he had always been a believer in doing things yourself. He tossed the bottle back somewhere on the bed and reached a hand between his legs to get himself ready. He let out a shaky breath, his free hand reaching out for Max’s leg, but he pulled himself together quickly. He adjusted his position so he could lean down again, the hand on Max’s leg moving back to his cock and lowering his mouth onto it again. It was a little awkward, the angle he was working with, one hand squeezing the base of Max’s dick while the other was wedged between his body and the bed below him, but he didn’t give a fuck. He could move, it was working, and that was all that fucking mattered. The weight of Max’s cock on his tongue combined with the feeling of his own fingers pressing into him, getting ready for Max was almost too much. Brady tried not to think about how desperate he looked and felt, impatience bubbling over and making him feel the need to fucking multitask. What the fuck ever. As if Max wasn’t into it just as much as Brady was.

On any other day, Max would embrace the teasing. He was usually the one dying to see what Brady would do next. He was always so addicted to everything he did; every time he kept him waiting or would look at him with that signature Brady smugness that he couldn’t help to just gravitate to. But right now it was different. He was the one deciding where and how things went, and he’d pushed them both to the point where waiting or slowing down seem painful now. “Keep me waiting too long and I might fall asleep,” he said lowly, right before Brady smirked at him. And he kind of hated how something so simple could make him so goddamn horny. He lifted his hand up to tangle in Brady’s hair once more, fingers wrapping around the locks tightly as he wrapped his mouth around him. Immediately, a low, drawn out groan left his lips, his head tilted back as his eyes fell shut. “Jesus,” he hissed under his breath before forcing himself to look back down at Brady. The sight of him eagerly setting the pace on his cock along with the feeling of finally, finally being touched was completely overwhelming. His hips shifted up of their own accord, gaze burning down at Brady. The moan against him was too much, and seeing how much he seemed to like this and need this was making him feel overpowered by pure want.

“Your mouth—.” He barely managed to say, his words cutting off right as Brady was grabbing the lube. And it didn’t take a super genius to understand what he was about to do, but seeing him to do it was unbelievable. Fuck fuck fuck. “Fuck,” he said out loud, gaze growing all the more intense, and he was no longer thinking. At all. His hand dropped down to the back of Brady’s neck, holding onto him firmly as his mouth slid back over him. “You missed this.” He noted as his breath hitched; hips shifting as he lifted himself to get a better view of him. And he was going off pure desire; his thoughts materializing instead of being shoved to the back of his mind like normal. “You missed me, didn’t you?” His words fell out as another groan left him. He wanted more. More of his mouth, more of the sounds he was making, just more of Brady. But he couldn’t take much more of this lead-up. He needed him at this point. Max’s hand found his hair again, and he yanked his head away from his cock, although it took all of his will to do just that. His gaze didn’t leave his. “Tell me.” It felt demanding coming from his lips. “And I’ll fuck you just like you need me to.“

Brady couldn’t help how satisfied he felt by the way Max responded to him. The way he sounded and how he was looking down at him spurred Brady on further. The hand on his neck was strangely intimate and Brady really fucking liked it. Max was right; Brady had missed this a whole fucking lot. Touching him, hearing him moan, knowing he was the one making Max feel good. He’d missed Max’s hands on him everywhere, his lips on every inch of his skin, his teeth grazing his neck and his hands in his hair. All in such a short time. Brady didn’t answer at first, didn’t know if he even should, since Max was just sort of talking and Brady still had his dick in his mouth. And he was also a little overwhelmed because his head was going further than he wanted it to. He missed fucking Max, but he also missed everything else. Being in bed. Bickering during filming. Max’s head on his chest. The way his voice sounded right in Brady’s ear first thing in the morning. Every fucking thing Brady had selfishly taken for granted and treated like something so much less. It wasn’t right, because Max was more; more than just this, than just someone Brady wanted to get off with all the time. Max was his best fucking friend and that was shot to hell.

Brady couldn’t say any of that. Not now. It wasn’t the time, and his brain also screamed at him to keep that shit on lock. He was lost in his thoughts by the time Max yanked his head up and said to tell him. Brady couldn’t just look him in the eyes and say he missed him. That wouldn’t go over well for anybody. He licked his lips, fully recognizing that Max’s words stemmed from the fact that they were both super fucking horny and nothing else. And that was valid. So Brady pushed all that other fuckin’ bullshit to the very back of his mind and held Max’s gaze. “I missed fucking you,” he said, his voice steady. “Your cock. My dick in your mouth. That’s what I missed.” Maybe it was a cop out and not exactly what Max wanted to hear. But it wasn’t like it was a lie. Just not the whole truth. “I missed this,” Brady repeated, going back to Max’s original statement rather than the one he couldn’t exactly acknowledge right now. “And I do need you.” Brady shifted again, pulling his hand away so he could sit up and scoot away from Max a bit. Brady looked down at him, now feeling a pit in his stomach he hated the feeling of enough to channel it into something more fervent. “So tell me how you want it.”

Max didn’t feel in control of his own thoughts right now, something he noted only after the words left his lips. He was purely going off instinct and what he wanted. He was in this weird haze where all he could really focus on was Brady and how hot all of this was; how much he wanted to keep this going while also wanting to just give them both what they wanted. Deep below all of that, though, he couldn’t help that sliver of frustration from projecting into the situation. What had happened still hurt him, more than he was letting on. Max wasn’t one to tell anyone what they did or didn’t feel. But fuck if it wasn’t easy to let himself believe certain things when he was with Brady like this. Even now, in these less than perfect circumstances. But his words served as a reminder to him and brought him back to reality. Sex. Just sex. That’s all it was now; all it ever was. And it was time Max start letting himself believe that instead of the dumbass thoughts that landed them both in this position in the first place. So he swallowed the fucking sting he still felt, even with as turned on as he was, and he shook his head with a huff of a laugh. “Yeah, well lucky you. You’re fucking getting it all tonight.” He let the hurt wash over him, giving way to frustration at himself, and fueling this whole situation further. Max sat up on his knees, grabbing the condom that still lay on the bed. “On your stomach,” he murmured as he ripped open the package, pausing to reach out with one hand and guide Brady closer to the center of the bed. If Brady wanted to be fucked, he’d give him that. But it didn’t mean Max had to look at him head on while he did it. It was that shit that got Max in trouble to begin with. “Want your ass up in the air.” He just needed to fuck him and get this out of his system. This was ridiculous, and he was too hard to use common sense and just walk away. He tossed the packaging to the side and rolled the condom onto his cock as he spoke. “That okay with you?“

Max laughing humorlessly and the low tone of his voice reminded Brady that he was wasting his time thinking about all that other shit now. He had started this whole thing out of frustration and tension and to shut Max up, and Max was also coming at it from that angle, so Brady was just going to forget that any of that had ever come up in the first place. He stayed where he was and watched Max put on the condom, something Brady might have done for him otherwise. Max wanting him like that was possibly the least surprising part of all of this, and Brady himself was more than okay with the idea of only having to think about how it felt. He couldn’t help but roll his eyes as he pushed himself up on his elbow to face away from him again. "Sure thing, Maxy,” Brady muttered over his shoulder. He pulled his knees up and planted his hands against the mattress. He pressed his luck every time he teased Max, because for all he knew Max could just say fuck it and leave him there. But Brady knew when he needed it just as much, and the ridiculously smug part of him that knew Max wouldn’t just walk away kept wanting to be a little bit of an ass, as usual. Brady turned his head just slightly, so he wasn’t entirely looking at Max, but enough that he wasn’t just speaking to the wall. “Do I have to say the magic word?”

It had never quite felt like this for Max before; not with Brady. It was only now that he was starting to realize that maybe this whole thing between them had never been just about sex for him. Because now that it’s all it was, it felt like a completely brand new situation. He felt like a different person, almost. And Brady, the guy he thought he knew as well as he knew himself, felt like a fucking stranger all of a sudden. With his back turned towards him, body bent in the position Max had asked for, they could both pretend that nothing had happened between them at all. That they were just doing this to get off. But then Brady had to go and be Brady, and a weird feeling settled into his chest; a dull ache he vehemently ignored for in favor of positioning himself behind him. Without thinking, he lifted his hand to slap him on the ass, the action sharp but not forceful. “Shut up. My name is goddamn Max.” With that, he moved a hand to grip Brady’s hip tightly with one hand, as the other dropped down to grab the base of his own cock. He had to steady his breathing as he guided himself to where he wanted to be; pressing his cock firmly against Brady’s opening, but not pushing in any further. Not fucking yet. “Now that you mention it. Good idea.” He mumbled out, halting in his spot as he leaned down and over him to speak close to his ear. And he wanted him so bad, it hurt to do this. But Brady right now was good at pushing his buttons, and for once he wasn’t going to just give into him so easily. “Go on, Brad. I’m waitin’.”

Brady raised his eyebrows, but still didn’t turn to look at Max as he did so. He considered that maybe he should just shut up and do as he had been doing all long, give Max what he was asking for because Brady needed him so badly. But all the deeper thoughts that had been running through his mind a few moments before seemed to flip a switch again. Before that point he had only been thinking and responding with his dick — which was the entire point here, in fairness. Now, though, when he was more aware of this being nothing but sex, that they were both going to walk away from, and reminded that he had been the one to derail everything in the first place by losing his shit when Max first spoke up… it made him think about how much he hated not being in control of any part of his life. And he knew that this—giving in to Max’s demands instead of making his own—really wasn’t that serious, didn’t make a difference outside of the bedroom, and that was why he’d let it get away from him without first realizing that that was where it was headed. So he was going to let Max have this because fuck, it was hot and Brady wanted it. He wanted to keep hearing him talk like that and to give in to it. But he supposed he didn’t want to do it quite so easily anymore. Brady trusted him, but he also wanted to feel like he hadn’t completely flipped things between he and Max for good.

Max was teasing Brady, pushing him even further past his breaking point, which he was sure he’d reached some time ago now. He couldn’t stop himself from pressing back against him, biting down on his lip too hard as the anticipation within him that had been growing by the second reached its boiling point. With Max speaking right into his ear, Brady finally turned his head so he could meet his eyes. “Abracadabra?” he deadpanned, holding Max’s gaze. “Or accio cock? That’s more my speed.” They could stay here for a while, Brady knew, with him being difficult and Max staying true to his word. He didn’t doubt Max’s reserve, especially not now, and Brady was an expert at making things harder than they needed to be. He could drag it out for his own satisfaction and his whole regaining control or whatever. But he really did want Max to just fuck him already. He had missed it and he fucking needed it. So he wasn’t going to keep playing his stupid games. Still… if Max could do things his way, Brady could do things his own way too. “Pleeease,” he finally said, his tone clearly a little mocking as he dragged the word out a little too long. “Fuck me.” Max wanted to hear it, so he could hear it. Brady pressed his lips together, just the hint of a smile forming, but he managed to suppress it and lowered his voice just a little to add, “And your name is Maxwell.”

Max was honestly now expecting him to just go along with it; to continue on how this night had been going. But he didn’t do that, instead he replied just how he normally would have thought he would. It was all so freaking Brady, it took him aback for a second. God. He was such a nerd. That really shouldn’t have been as hot as it was, but Max always did like that about him a little too much. “Sorry, but your wizard powers haven’t come in just yet. Try that again.” He tried not to smile; tried to keep his thoughts solely on what they were about to do. And when Brady finally said the right thing, albeit sarcastically, it helped him do just yet. The smart-ass Maxwell remark only fueled him, and suddenly he wasn’t able to draw this out any longer. He began to push the head of his cock into him, head dropping back as he fucking finally did what he’d been dying to. He waited until Brady was used to it and ready for more before he continued. “M-ax.” He corrected, a little breathlessly hand continued to grip Brady’s hip all too tightly, drawing back a little so he could snap his hips forward. He guided him with his hand, rocking him back against his cock as he quickly worked set a pace. His other hand rose to glide over his back. “Am I really gonna have to get you to say it?” He felt so fucking good around him and he couldn’t think, but he had to get the last word out. “Fuck.” He groaned as his hips rocked into him with a little more force. “Little cliché, don’t you think?”

Brady might have added something else or tried to be snarky again, but then Max was pressing into him and he couldn’t do anything but drop his head down and groan. Even through the discomfort in the beginning, Brady couldn’t believe how downright relieved he felt to finally have Max inside of him again. Max’s fingers digging into his side with damn near bruising force was pretty fucking hot, emphasized even further when Max actually started to move and touch more of Brady’s skin with his other hand. “I… just said your name,” Brady breathed out, his whole body rocking forward with Max’s thrusts. It helped that Max was pushing and pulling him along too. “Don’t think I have to say it again.” Max could only get so much out of him, especially now that they were both getting what they had been wanting so badly all night. Brady gripped the sheets like he had been earlier, trying to keep himself steady as Max’s hips snapped into him relentlessly, but it was so fucking good, and Brady was trying to move with him to somehow get more of him. Always more. “Christ,” Brady said through clenched teeth. He reached a hand down to wrap around his own cock, stroking himself in time with Max’s movements. He knew he’d have to pace himself to keep from coming literally immediately (which he wouldn’t even be surprised by), because he wanted this to last. He didn’t know when or if they’d do this again and needed to rememorize every single feeling. But his cock also desperately needed attention, so Brady would just have to be careful about it. “Fuck. It’s so fucking good, man.” Brady closed his eyes, resisting the urge to turn around again and look at him. “Bet you missed this too.”

Max was finding it hard to think right now, let alone provide anymore complete sentences. So he just ignored that comment, instead choosing to rock his hips into him sharply. As much as he wanted to keep this drawn out; as much as he had been enjoying having the upper hand, his resolve pretty much crumbled the moment he pushed inside him. He was consumed with how Brady felt and looked and fucking sounded. And it took every ounce of his self control to not just get lost in it completely, but he was so crazily worked up by this point it wouldn’t last long at all. So he tried to pace himself the best he could. Max needed more of this feeling; was addicted to it right now and could only think of how good it all felt. “Fuck, Brady. Wish you could see yourself.” He managed to get out as he glanced between them, heart hammering in his chest and eyes glazed over at the sight. It looked as good as it felt and having Brady try to meet his thrusts was unbelievably hot. “So fucking hot. You feel so good.” He encouraged, rasping out his words as he stretched down and forward, forehead pressing against his back and breath brushing the skin as his hips thrusted into him with a little more force. “Yeah I fucking missed it.” He mumbled against his skin, the hand on Brady’s back sliding under his body to push his hand on his cock away. He wanted to touch him himself. He tried to ignore the traitorous voice in his head that told Max he just missed him. But he wasn’t going to mess himself up with those thoughts again. “Missed fucking you.” He breathed as he pressed a kiss to his shoulder blade, hand wrapping around the base of Brady’s dick the best he could in this position. “Missed being the one to make you come.” His words were punctuated by his fingers wrapping around Brady’s dick, stroking him almost too slowly. “Missed your cock. Your mouth.” He drawled out, breathing labored. The hand on Brady’s hip raised up to tangle in his hair, tugging his head back enough so he could drag his lips over the back of his neck. He continued to rock into him, his pace steady but threatening to grow reckless at any moment. “Such a good friend.”

Max was downright fucking intoxicating and right now, that was more obnoxious than anything else. Brady couldn’t even be annoyed with him correctly because he drew him right the fuck in. That was pretty clear the moment Brady decided to heighten their argument by kissing him. Could he really be blamed, though? Max was leaning over him and speaking right up against his skin as he fucked him and it was so hot it almost made Brady dizzy. His breathing was shallow as he tried to keep it together. He listened to Max tell him all the things he had missed about him, the same things Brady had just been saying before about Max. For a moment, a perhaps hugely hypocritical part of Brady considered asking ‘That it?’ But he didn’t know what that would prove, wondering if Max had missed more than just the sex at this point since their fallout, or if he would say so like Brady couldn’t. He didn’t know what he would even want to hear either way. So he kept it to himself, instead just giving an appreciative moan in response and letting Max’s hand take over for his. Brady started to slip, letting himself fall completely under Max’s spell as his hand moved in time with his thrusts, lips on his neck, and Brady’s eyes closed. He knew this wasn’t going to last. And then… Brady wasn’t sure exactly what the fuck Max was trying to get at there, but his comment had Brady’s eyes flying back open. He turned his head but couldn’t quite see Max’s face since it was pressed to his neck. “Yeah,” Brady managed to get out, his voice shot to hell at this point. “Damn good friend.” Although he hadn’t been, really, and that was the irony of it.

As soon as Brady started to feel like he might be getting close, he reached for Max’s hand, his own closing tightly around Max’s wrist to pull it away from his cock. “Wait, wait.” He reached back to touch whatever part of Max he could reach from that angle, a signal for him to slow down and listen. “I know you wanted to… fuck, just.” Brady stopped, taking a moment to collect himself with a deep breath and gathering his thoughts through his haze of unbelievable arousal. “I wanna fucking look at you,” he finally said, voice quiet. “When you come. I wanna watch you come for me.” He knew it had something to do with this stubborn thing he had going on, but Brady also just hadn’t gotten to see that expression on Max’s face in too long, so fucking sue him. The newfound part of him also felt like he just wanted Max to look at him when he came, too. “Lemme flip over.”

The phrase damn good friend echoed in his mind as he drew his hips back, snapping forward into Brady with newfound urgency. It was another reminder that Brady was just that, his friend. And while before it had bothered him, right now in this situation it just made him want this more. The sound of Brady’s voice made his whole body feel fucking hot; pleasant chills rolling down his spine as they continued to move together. All he could think was that this was too good, and before Max knew it, his pace became more erratic. He was so so so close, and he increased the pace on Brady’s dick to bring him right along with him. His face was completely buried in his neck, breath coming out in short gasps as he lost himself in the moment. It was only when Brady told him to wait that his trance was broken, and it took every ounce of strength he had to still his hips. Fuck. “What? What’s wrong?” He inhaled as he tried to regain his breath and think clearly, trying to pay attention to what Brady was saying. When the words finally got through to him, Max didn’t move at all for a few brief moments before groaning low in his throat. Bad idea bad idea bad idea. But he didn’t fucking care at this point. He just wanted to come, and he’d be lying if he said he didn’t like watching Brady as he did too. Max silently withdrew, not even bothering with a verbal answer. His hands slid to Brady’s waist to help him move so that he was facing him.

For the first time, Max got a good look at him. Brady was flushed; the sheen of sweat over his skin and the look on his face just what he remembered from when they’d done this before. But for some reason, right now it stuck out in his mind even more. Max’s eyes flickered to his, and as much as he was trying to focus on the task at hand only, the familiar shade of his eyes made his chest hurt. He didn’t want to keep getting distracted by him, not when they were only here for one thing. But he honestly couldn’t help it, and before he could stop himself, he was muttering out a simple phrase. “Fuck. You’re so goddamn pretty.” And he’d thought it to himself countless times; since before they even started this mess. But vocalizing it was different, and Max quickly realized he should add onto that. Because God knows Brady didn’t like it when he said certain things, and right now they just needed to finish the task at hand. "Look so good. Gonna let me fuck you again?” He waited until Brady was ready before sliding between his legs, supporting himself with a single hand while his other slid down Brady’s torso, down until he reached his dick. His fingertips trailed down the side teasingly, but not for long before Max was dropping his hand to wrap around his own cock. He wasted no time in pressing against him again, eyes finding his face once more while he pushed back into him slowly. But he wasn’t going easy after that. They both wanted it, and he wanted them both to come. He wanted to see it. Max wrapped his hand around Brady again, not wasting any time stroking him while he tried so badly to find their original pace.

“You wanna come for me, Brady?” He managed to say, still looking at him as his thrusts became deeper. He loved this too much; missed the feeling of him too much. He just needed it now. He stroked Brady’s dick a little faster; a little more pressure as he continued to look down at him. And he couldn’t seem to look away. God he wasn’t going to last much longer himself. He could barely talk; barely think. All he could focus on was him and how good this was. “Tell me.”

The second Max looked down at him, watching him with the slightest hint of a look in his eyes Brady recognized from before all this, he realized he had probably fucked up by asking him to do this. Because now he was going to have to avert his eyes away from Max’s. Otherwise… it was gonna fucking hurt and that was some goddamn bullshit. That wasn’t what this was supposed to be and that helped piss Brady off again. That, and what Max said next. Because it hit him hard, made him remember all over again that Max had seen him that way all along and Brady had been using that. “Yeah yeah, I’m beautiful.” His tone dripped with sarcasm. He couldn’t focus on that, needed the subject to change, and maybe being his normal asshole self was the best way to do that. Thankfully Max didn’t hang onto it, and all Brady could do was nod when Max asked about fucking him again. God, it was all he wanted. He couldn’t remember the last time he had been so desperate for it.

He hissed as Max pressed into him again, hand right back on Brady’s cock and immediately picking up the pace. Brady had already been getting close and he knew this wasn’t going to take long. He also knew Max was close, and that alone caused Brady to moan and wrap his arms around Max. He pulled him in until he could feel the heat of Max’s skin against his, nails digging into his back in a frantic attempt at keeping him close. Jesus, Brady loved having Max so close to him like this. It set every nerve ending in him on fucking fire, made his heart pound, and really, really turned him on. But it was more than that. It always fucking was, every single time, and Brady mouthed at Max’s neck and let out a shaky breath against his skin. “I fucking miss you so much,” Brady told him, present tense, his voice little more than a choked out whisper against Max’s throat, all while Brady just clung to him and Max caused his body to move with every one of his steady thrusts.

Max’s hand was still wedged between them, bringing Brady right up to the edge in the way he had been craving. “Fuck. Fuck, I’m gonna come.” His chest fucking ached. He was so unbelievably close and could hardly breathe, standing on that same tightrope from the very beginning, the one he had been waiting for Max to shove him off of, and now it was about to snap with both of them on it. And Brady couldn’t look at him. “Oh fuck. Max.” Brady couldn’t help the sharp cry of his name as the tightrope snapped, but he could shut his eyes, and that’s just what he did, even which his forehead now pressing against Max’s shoulder. He only tightened his hold around Max as his hips arched up into Max’s hand and he came really fucking hard, over Max’s hand and his chest and Brady’s own stomach. Brady realized he’d fallen—or they had—when he started to catch his breath. He didn’t open his eyes yet. He dropped his arms down to his side and worked on pulling himself the fuck together.

Max didn’t have time to dwell on the brief, weird moment that was honestly his own doing. When he had time to think about this later, he’d hate himself for how many times he’d slipped up this evening when he was the one who was supposed to be in control for once. But Max didn’t feel in control of even himself right now, especially when Brady was clinging onto him like that. The nails digging into his back had him choking back another groan as he rocked into him with force; body feeling as though it were on fire. He couldn’t talk anymore. Max could barely breathe, he was so wound tight it was painful. Brady was completely surrounding him right now. He could smell him all around him; could feel his breath and tongue and lips against his skin. Could hear his sighs as they both got closer and closer. And he most definitely didn’t miss what he said. He didn’t have time to let that sink in, just react. “God. Brady.” He whispered under his breath, and tried to brace himself with the one hand on the mattress as he chased what was so close now. “I’m right here. Right here.” He managed to get out in return, his own voice a hoarse mess. He wasn’t sure he made sense. “Miss you.” Not much longer after that, they were both so dangerously close. He leaned his head back the second he felt Brady tense, and seeing him completely lose it was the final thing that sent him over the edge. He’d never heard Brady sound like that before, and he’d been the one to bring him to that point.

The fact that he could feel him come between them made it hotter, and he suddenly had no reason to hold himself back anymore. He dropped his hand from Brady’s dick to his hip, holding tight as he rocked his hips once, twice more — and then he stilled completely. “Fuck.” His eyes screwed shut as he dropped his head down, face angled towards Brady’s as a low hiss sounded through his mouth. “Fuck yes.” His hips rocked forward of his own accord as he came, hard. His muscles and shoulders were so tense; his body had ached so much. But it had been so worth it; every muscle in his body now felt like it had been melted. Max stayed slumped over him for a moment, breathing so hard he would have thought he sounded stupid if not for how unreal that all had just been. And neither could deny that they’d liked it. He tried so hard to gain his breath; to regain conscious thought.

A long few moments passed, with them still pressed against each other. It was warm, and familiar, and didn’t feel out of place at all. It was just Brady and him and he wasn’t stressed or worried about anything. He just felt good. But the minute reality began to sink in, and the second he realized he was still inside of him, Max was slowly rolling off of him and to the side. He laid there for another few long moments, silently looking at the ceiling while his heart pounded rather erratically in his chest. “Well.” He finally said, voice feeling shot now. Max licked his lips and sat up slightly. He felt like he was having an outer body experience. But he still did what he needed to do and quickly made work of removing the condom, tying it off and leaning to the side of the bed to toss it away. Usual habit, as was grabbing the tissue box to set it between them. He grabbed a few tissues from the box before nudging it towards Brady. And he was almost afraid to look at him, not knowing exactly why. After wiping his own chest clean and tossing the tissues away, he finally rolled his head over to look at him. And the reality of the situation dawned on him. He’d really just fucked Brady after swearing off of it. All because he let him get under his skin. And now, he wasn’t sure what to do. It’s not like he was going to roll over to him and cuddle with him. That’s not what friends did. So what did they do?

Max swallowed and turned on his side to fully face him. That was intense. To say the least. They’d never been like that, ever. “You good, dude?” He pushed back the need to press himself closer to him, to kiss over his bare skin and just lay there with him and soak in what they just did for real. He forced himself to stay on his side of the bed, hand falling to twist in the blankets as his eyes surveyed him carefully. “Wasn’t too rough, was I?”

Brady was pulled from his trance by Max finally speaking. It was just one word, but it caused Brady to open his eyes and actually try to focus back in on the world around him. He saw Max moving from the corner of his eye and knew what he was doing, but kept his eyes fixed on the ceiling until he had to worry about cleaning up too. But once he’d done that, he lay back again, staring straight up. What the ever loving fuck had he done? Had they done? Well, it was pretty obvious what exactly they had done. But Brady couldn’t for the life of him figure out why he had thought it was a good idea, or why neither of them stopped it. Because now he couldn’t stop thinking about what it meant, and that was entirely out of character for him. Since when had he worried about what the fuck this shit meant? They, or rather he, had really fucked things up.

When Max spoke again, Brady still didn’t dare to move. “Yeah,” he said simply in response. “’M good.” It felt so fucking weird, answering Max in his usual worn out voice but having him on the other side of the bed, not wanting to look over at him, and knowing they couldn’t close the distance this time around. Or just shouldn’t, he supposed. Brady shook his head. “Nah. You were fine.” It was all fine, despite the pit in his stomach and the fact that Brady felt more vulnerable than he had in a long time. He brought his arms up to cross over his chest. Finally, he turned his head so he could look at Max, who was lying on his side. “You good?” It had become second nature to make sure they were both on the same page after the fact, especially when things got a little over the top. It had never been quite like that before, though. Brady had an aching desire to reach out, but it wasn’t like that anymore. And he’d probably end up regretting it in like ten minutes anyway. He needed to remind himself why they were even fucking here in the first place. “Sorry,” Brady mumbled, looking away once again, “for what I said. At the end.” He hadn’t meant to pull that shit. It wasn’t like he’d planned it. Things just slipped out in the heat of the moment. Lord knew they both understood that. He didn’t want Max to feel like he was just trying to fuck with him or something.

Max had never felt quite this awkward around Brady before. It felt wrong; weird to feel like a stranger all of a sudden. Especially after being such close friends for as long as they had, and after what they just did together. It was the same feeling of detachment he’d experienced over these past few weeks, but right now it somehow felt even worse. This was never supposed to be like this. He never wanted to lose his friendship with Brady, or even risk it. If he’d just put his curiosity out of his head and hadn’t have kissed Brady in the first place all those months ago, none of this would have happened. But now it had, and they were used to gravitating towards each other physically now. And it was all wrong, because Max couldn’t get his fucking brain and heart and body on the same page. What they just did was new, and he knew that Brady maybe wasn’t used to not being completely in control. So it felt really bad to just act unaffected afterwards. He was glad to hear Brady was good, but was no more relieved or comforted by it. “Yeah, man. All good.” He dropped his gaze to the bed, away from Brady and half-smiled, although there was nothing behind it. It just felt empty, until Brady spoke again. And that emptiness gave way to the hurt he’d been trying not to feel this whole time. For a second, it kind of kicked him in the chest, making him feel short of breath. Brady was sorry for what he said. And Max would have maybe pretended to forget about it had Brady not pointed it out; made it worse by making it clear he hadn’t meant them. His lips stretched into a line as he rolled back over on his back, eyes flickering up to the ceiling for a moment.

And once again, he just felt so stupid. He was never like this over anybody. If they didn’t want him, he’d let them go. No questions asked. But Brady kept accidentally pulling him back in somehow, even if he didn’t mean to. Tonight, Max hadn’t expected this all to happen, although he was fully aware of what he was getting himself into when he’d grabbed Brady. At the time, though, he didn’t want to get ahead of himself again and let his weird out of place feelings get in the way. But apparently he couldn’t do that. “It’s fine, Brady.” He said, making sure his voice sounded steady, but he felt a little nauseous. He didn’t want to have to apologize for what he said too, because he’d meant it. And it felt wrong to just take things back, even if he blurted them out in the middle of sex. “It happens, right?” Max finally sat up, gaze ahead of him as he shrugged. “Didn’t mean anything.” That shouldn’t have hurt him as much to say out loud as it did. Max’s resolve began to harden at that moment. He really needed to snap himself out of this. As much as he wanted to stay; to repeat the past and roll up next to him, he knew he couldn’t. “Okay, dude.“ He sighed. "I don’t wanna take up your space for too long.” He tried to regain a semblance of his normal teasing tone, and it might have even worked. Max slid to the edge of his bed, feet planted on the ground as his body slumped forward, not leaving just yet. Something in him was still tugging at him to stay. But he knew if he listened, he’d probably just be making another mistake. “I should go check on the puppy anyway, you know? She gets lonely if she’s by herself for too long.”

Brady wanted to say that he hadn’t thought he was going to feel so off after the fact. The truth, though, was that he hadn’t actually thought about it at all. He had first kissed Max because he was annoyed and tired of playing games, and he knew all throughout it wasn’t a good idea. But he hadn’t stopped to wonder how he would feel when it was over. And he still couldn’t quite pinpoint what this was — whatever he was feeling now. Sleeping with Max had become such a natural thing in large part because of how comforting it was. It felt safe, being with his best friend, knowing they would enjoy each other’s presence afterward and make it clear all was well. They didn’t have that now. Brady still felt secure, because he knew Max was literally never gonna judge him or anything like that. But he had opened up in a way he hadn’t before and now he was all tense, not being able to just relax with Max’s head on his chest, or to talk about what had just happened. Which… he could do that, except for the fact that he was Brady, and he most certainly could not, realistically.

Brady wondered just how monumentally he had fucked everything up when Max let him know it was all good, it didn’t mean anything. He sounded sure of it. Like he knew Brady was telling the truth about not meaning it, even if that was twisted as fuck, because it wasn’t the truth. It made Brady feel really shitty. He’d thought that was what he wanted, for Max to believe the sex didn’t mean anything so they wouldn’t have to deal with any feelings. But after Max opened up to him and subsequently called Brady out on his bullshit, the thought of Max actually starting to believe it because Brady’s bullshit carried on sucked more than it probably should. Deep down he knew he should say something. It could be his chance to speak up and help Max understand why he couldn’t be what he wanted. But Brady just… couldn’t. “Yeah.” He didn’t know what the fuck else to say when Max said he was going to leave. Brady knew he wasn’t going to stay, and maybe he didn’t even want him to at this point. Brady sat up to get the fleece blanket bunched up at the end of his bed to pull it over himself and lie on his side, facing away from Max. He reached for his phone on the bedside table, where he’d left it charging before going into the kitchen earlier. And he was even hungrier now, but fuck if he was gonna get up with the mood he was in now. “Go for it.” This fucking sucked. He didn’t know how long he and Max were going to be mad at each other for, but he had no doubt this had changed things, and he wasn’t totally sure how. It just… was not for the better.

#CANON #safety blanket #current verse #010

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braxarchives · 3 years

Text

Just Friends ― CANON. (current verse)

Max finally says something about his growing feelings for Brady. The conversation doesn’t go as he hoped. Some NSFW in the beginning.

Laying in his bed with Brady after they had sex was definitely not an unusual occurrence for them now. Max was stretched out beside him, arm slung over Brady’s waist as he pressed his forehead against his chest while he came down. Neither of them were even close to asleep, Max knew, because he could feel Brady’s heart still thumping hard in his chest. And God knows Max was wide-ass awake right now. Without thinking, he pressed a few absentminded kisses over the expanse of his skin, arm sliding up to rest on torso in a small caress. “That was hot.” He lifted his head up to smile at him lazily. “Think you’re trying to kill me here, Bradford.”

The amount of times Brady found himself lying back against the pillows, his heart pounding, one arm behind his head and the other sliding around Max’s shoulders were immeasurable. It was pure bliss, basking in the afterglow and being left to think about how good it had been. And good it was; it always was. At first, Brady could only manage a hum in response to Max’s comment and the feeling of his lips dragging over Brady’s skin, which still felt sensitive all over. He matched the weak smile and lifted the arm around Max’s shoulders to slide his fingers through his hair. “Can’t kill you. Then I wouldn’t have sex this good anymore. Or like, a job I guess. Whatever.” While Max had his head up, Brady took the opportunity to lean in and kiss him, before dropping his head back against his arm and looking up at the ceiling. He was vaguely aware that they both needed to clean themselves up, but that could wait a second while he gathered himself. “Christ. You’re always surprisin’ me.” Just when Brady thought he had figured out all of Max’s tricks, he’d do something new, usually minor, and it blew Brady’s mind every time. And as much as he didn’t want Max to get a big head about it, he knew how a good ego boost felt, especially when it was true. “You’re kinda the best I’ve ever had, y’know,” he said without thinking too much more about it. It was true. And honesty was the best policy, after all.

His eyes closed for a moment as Brady’s hand carded through his hair, and a low laugh left his lips. “Wish this was the job.” He said, dumbly, then paused at himself. “Not in a gross way.” His brain was kind of mush, like the rest of his body, so he wasn’t too hard on himself for saying dumb things right now. Max responded to the kiss automatically, kissing him slowly, a change from their earlier exchanges. It was nice, and it made his whole body warm all over again. “Am I?” A slow smile spread over his face, and he raised his eyebrows at him, half-lazy, half-playful. Max reluctantly make work of removing his condom, tying it up and leaning over Brady to throw it in the waste basket beside the bed. Grabbing a few tissues from the side table, he wiped himself and Brady off as casually as possible and honestly didn’t think twice about it. It wasn’t awkward anymore, or weird. It was just… a thing they did now. “I’m full of surprises, Brady.” He teased, and disposed of the tissues before settling beside him. It was then that Brady decided to drop an absolute bombshell and Max looked at him - completely startled. “I’m sorry, what was that?” The pride and…weird sense of accomplishment immediately exploded in his damn chest. And he couldn’t keep the dumb grin off his face if he tried. Brady just said he was the best he’d ever fucking had. Whether he meant it or not… that was…what. He was in shock, and it finally registered in his brain Brady wasn’t laughing. And just like that, Max was rolling on top of him, and he didn’t give a fuck if he was still naked. His knees were supported by the bed, and he let his palms rest on the mattress by Brady’s head. He leaned in to kiss him, the gesture playful; so much different than their usual kisses. It was light, but Max was living in the moment here. “I’m gonna need to hear that one more time so I can never let you live it down for as long as y’live, thank you.” He paused, and he couldn’t stop freaking smiling. “Wanna know a secret, though? You’re my best ever too.”

“Yup.” Brady watched Max lean over him to throw away the tissues and immediately pulled him back in. “You are,” Brady agreed. That was what he had just said, after all. Max looked at him wildly and immediately started going on about what Brady had said, and he held back another grin, rolling his eyes instead. He knew he was gonna give Max a big head about it. “I didn’t say shit,” Brady protested, but he very quickly lost the ability to hold back his smile. Max fucking did that to him. Dumb contagious grin. The way he rolled on top of him had Brady laughing a little breathlessly. Max was such a weirdo. Brady didn’t mind the kiss, but then he wasn’t really sure what to do with his hands, so he settled for pushing Max’s chest and rolling him back onto the bed beside him. “You take what you can get.” Brady was almost matching Max’s playful tone, in the way he could only manage to. He certainly wasn’t going to say it again now. But he sure liked hearing Max say it. “Obviously,” Brady said, dragging out the word and making it clear he was just being an ass. He turned to his side and propped himself up on his elbow, his other hand coming to rest on Max’s waist as Brady leaned over and pressed his lips to his neck. “Otherwise you wouldn’t keep coming back for more.” He trailed kisses along his jaw and brushed their lips together, but no more than that before once again falling back against the bed. “So are you gonna shut up now?” he asked. “And come… do what you were doing before.” Brady vaguely gestured toward his own chest, where Max had been lying before he moved to clean up and be annoying and all that. “That was soft as fuck.” And he wasn’t typically a fan of soft, but all bets were off when it came to Max. After sex, of course. That was when things were different. “C’mon, Maxy.”

All he could do was laugh as Brady pushed him off to the side, and he immediately was wounding an arm around the back of Brady’s neck, fingers toying with the ends of his hair as Brady pressed kisses over his neck. The playfulness of it all was so nice and he didn’t bother to try to stop smiling as their lips brushed together. Max didn’t try to deepen it or anything else, just enjoying it even if Brady was being full of himself. But it was honestly just Brady at this point, and it made him smile. “Pretty sure I’d still come back for more. Have you seen yourself? Damn. You being decent is just an added bonus.” That literally wasn’t going to lessen Brady’s ego at all, but he didn’t care. He raised his eyebrows at him as Brady motioned to his chest. “Soft, huh? Didn’t know you liked that.” But Max could do soft. It’s one of the things he knew he was good at. And a glimmer of hope that had been simmering under the surface lately began to really shine through. “You’re the worst. Literally call me anything else but that and I’ll lay on you all damn day.” A little hypocritical, perhaps, with all of Max’s Bradford’s he tended to drop so casually. Nonetheless, he was pretty instantly rolling over to Brady, sliding his arm over his waist in order to bring himself closer. His hand pressed against Brady’s side; then slowly, though not necessarily cautiously, Max was resting his head on his chest. “Put your hand in my hair again, dude.” He mumbled and smiled to himself, planting a few more kisses on Brady’s chest much like earlier. But this time he didn’t pull away; he had no reason to now. “I like it when you do that.” He said, simply. And before he could fight it or think about it, he was resting his chin on his chest rolling his eyes up to meet his, the simple grin still in place. And he wasn’t thinking; didn’t think he needed to in that moment. “I kinda like this too, you know.”

“Wow. Already trying to get me in the mood for round two?” Brady teased. It wasn’t like he’d be opposed, but still. Max seemed surprised by Brady wanting him to come back, but he figured he should know by now Brady was all about the post-sex snuggling. So he just rolled his eyes, as he usually did, while Max complained about the name and moved back over to him. “What? It’s close to your actual name. At least I didn’t just make up some dumb shit like Bradford,” he said, the mocking tone evident as he said the word. He usually tried not to draw attention to the name at all, since he was lying through his teeth about it, but Max was never going to find out. “Don’t tell me what to do,” he teased, but still immediately raised his hand to thread through Max’s hair again. He was content all over again, just lying there in a position they were both familiar with, and he would have been fine if they just stayed there in silence. But Max looked up at him from where he was and said he liked this. Brady held his gaze for just a moment before averting his eyes and looking up at the ceiling. He wasn’t entirely sure what’s Max meant, but he could assume he was referring to the obvious. “Well, I’d hope so. Otherwise you’re a really fuckin’ good actor, man.” He turned back to look at him again. “I mean, I like it too. Thought we established this.”

“Maybe I am. Is it working?” He settled into the embrace easily; and they’d done it so many times before. The only difference was that Max was starting to realize that this was maybe a little more than just the usual friends with benefits deal. Especially when Brady was straight up asking him to lay with him. “Bold of you to assume you know my real name. Could really be Maximilliano for all you know.” He spoke quietly; teasingly. “How dare you diss Bradford. It’s sexy as hell.” Max thought so, anyway. “Hm, sure you don’t want me to tell you what to do? I feel like you’d be into that.” Max tilted his head into the touch; muscles instantly relaxing at the gesture. It wasn’t startling to him anymore how content he was just laying there with him. He accepted it at this point, and right now he wasn’t trying to hide how much he liked it. He laughed at that softly and shook his head, chin still planted on Brady as he did so. “I mean, I can be. Just not about this.” Max shrugged to the best of his ability, given his current position. “But no, not just that. I mean… I like this.” He repeated as he slid his arm up to slide over his torso again, and he wasn’t even trying to feel up his abs this time. He just wanted to be touching him. And he let himself get brave; let himself push all the negative thoughts out of his mind in favor of just going for it. Max always did have trouble keeping his thoughts inside his head. “Us. Like this.” Max wasn’t being clear enough, he knew, so he took a small pause to man the hell up. His heart was kind of beating heavily in his chest and his stomach felt all queasy, but he didn’t look away from Brady’s face while he spoke. He didn’t think about the repercussions, or how this might be weird, or any of that. He rarely did. “I know this isn’t…wasn’t supposed to be anything. Or whatever.” He lifted his head up as he spoke. “But I dunno.” A small, genuine smile spread across his face. And he was hopeful. “I just like you, man.”

Brady wanted to make a comment about how he was usually the one calling the shots, but he decided to keep it to himself this time around. Besides, he was allowing himself to be less and less of an uptight control freak with Max as time went on. That is… until Max kept talking. And Brady listened, watching his face, trying to understand everything he was saying. Brady’s brow furrowed as he tried to figure it out. Because right now it sounded like Max was trying to…take this a step further. And Brady had known that things were a little different lately, but Jesus. He hadn’t expected this. His heart rate picked up a bit as realization set in. Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck. He had fucked up. “Max,” was all he was able to say at first. Brady shifted, feeling fifty fucking shades of uncomfortable because what the fuck was he supposed to say? Max was kind and genuine and had that fucking smile on his face and all Brady wanted to do was run away instead of accepting that that was all for a fucking reason. Brady sat up, effectively separating them in the process. He wasn’t about to have this conversation with their limbs all tangled together. “Why… We were just…” He didn’t even know what to say. How to begin. Brady shook his head, looking down at the bed below him. “That’s. Not what this is.” He forced himself to pick up his head and look at Max. He deserved at least that. “It was…just sex. You know that.” Saying it out loud, right to Max’s face made that pit settle in his stomach. But he had to say it. He couldn’t let this go any further, even if he didn’t even fucking know where he own head was. He just knew that wasn’t a good idea. “That’s all there is to ‘us’.”

It was hard for Max to pinpoint the exact moment he realized he messed up, but it was like a steady progression of realization. As soon as he saw the look on Brady’s face and the tone of his voice, reality began to crash down on him. And as he disentangled from Max and continued on, it was like someone just tossed a bucket of ice water on him. He sat up straight, immediately on guard, immediately knowing he’d gone too far. But more than anything, he was confused. And…really fucking hurt. “What?” Was all he could say at first, his chest constricting so tight he couldn’t think for a second. Max didn’t know what he was expecting, but it wasn’t this. Now he just felt so fucking stupid. “Yeah, I did know that.” Max shook his head, frustration and embarrassment settling deep in his bones. “It was that, at first. But just sex wasn’t supposed to end up like this, Brady. I don’t cuddle with my friends after sex. Or just because.” The words tumbled out in the worst case of word vomit he’d ever experienced, and once they were out, Max knew he couldn’t take them back. “Look, man. You don’t have to like me back.” He felt nauseous saying that, but fuck, now it was obvious. He still couldn’t help how stung he felt, though, so his dumb ass continued on. “But don’t act like I’m just… making things up, either.” He reached out a hand towards him, before retracting it, and his voice got smaller. “I can’t help that I feel shit for you. But don’t act like I’m crazy for it. Just… you’ve got to admit it’s confusing. ‘Least give me that.”

Brady couldn’t blame Max. He didn’t want to. He hadn’t done anything wrong. But Brady was immediately on the defense and he felt like he needed to blame someone, because otherwise he would have to fully accept that Max was right. Brady had been feeling these things and was too scared to come to terms with it. Everything inside of him screamed not to do just that. Brady shook his head, suddenly feeling very exposed in every sense of the word. He leaned over the edge of the bed to grab his previously discarded clothes. “That’s… that’s not fair.” Brady stood to quickly pull on his boxers and then turned to face Max. “If you weren’t okay with that then you should have fucking said something. We’ve been doing that shit since the first fuckin’ time.” Brady brought a hand up to run through his hair. “Don’t do that. You know it didn’t mean shit. I woke up and thought we slept together because you stayed, okay? That had nothing to do with me. And the other time I was drunk and high as fuck, that’s nothing.” He knew that was a lie. Deep down, he fucking knew it. But it was easier to point fingers. To defend. “You’re not— god, I’m not saying you’re fuckin’ crazy, dude, but. Fuck. That’s not what this is and you knew it.” Brady paused, looking away at nothing in particular. “Or you should’ve.” He was frustrated. It wasn’t fair, he knew, but how else was he supposed to feel when he had tried to avoid exactly this? He knew he had done a shitty job, but still. “Fuck. Just… What do you want me to say here, man?” Brady asked, arms outstretched. “I… we can’t, okay?”

It was escalating, fast, and Max couldn’t do anything to stop it. Brady was up in a panic, gathering his clothes and looking so caught off guard that Max would feel fucking guilty any other time. But right now? He was hurt; he was humiliated. And he hated feeling like he just made things up in his head. Had he? “Yeah, and the first fuckin’ time is what made it different.” He swallowed, feeling entirely too vulnerable saying that out loud. “And I liked it, okay? But I wasn’t going to make a deal out of it. But this?” He motioned between the two of them. “You might not want it; want me – whatever, but news flash Brady, just friends don’t just lay all over each other for the hell of it. Even after sex. And they don’t just kiss each other outta the blue either.” He felt sick; he shouldn’t be calling him out like this. But God, he felt insane. Clingy. Like someone who just didn’t get the hint. And he hadn’t felt this stupid in a long ass time. He shook his head to himself and stood up, grabbing his own clothes and tugging them on haphazard. He got his own boxers and shirt on, coming to stand in front of Brady. He didn’t understand why he was reacting like this. It was one thing to not feel the same about him. Max could handle that. But it was the way he was doing it; like he was disturbed by just the thought of it. And that’s what hurt the most, because they were best friends before anything else. “I’m not asking for a goddamn marriage proposal here, Brady. I just want —” He struggled, not sure what he wanted. Because here Brady was, telling him it wasn’t anything. “I just wanna know why it’s so bad. You’re sayin’ you can’t.” His voice softened, and he wasn’t hiding the fact that he was hurt now. “What are you so afraid of?”

Brady yanked his shirt over his head as Max spoke. By the time Brady could look at him again, Max had said something about the first time, and Brady’s heart raced as the defensiveness took over. “The first time,” he repeated, essentially spitting the words right back at him. “You mean when we got drunk off our asses and stumbled into your fuckin’ room to suck each other off. You’re right, how could I forget how romantic that was?” Brady knew what he meant, of course he did. But he wasn’t going to admit it. “If that made you think I wanted more than sex then I’m sorry you misunderstood.” Brady shook his head, searching around the floor for his pants while Max continued to speak, mostly just to give himself something to do. He was panicking. He knew he needed to reign it in, or just to walk away, but he couldn’t bring himself to without fighting back. “I didn’t say we were just fucking friends,” Brady countered, straightening up again to look at him. “I don’t fuck all of my friends. But that’s it, Max. We’re friends who sleep together and that’s the only ‘more’ there is to it.” He didn’t have an argument for the kiss. Mostly because he didn’t even know what the fuck that was and he wanted to forget it. Max came toward him and got all soft, but it just made Brady even more stressed, and he instinctively took a step back. Max asking what he was afraid of made something in him snap. He was afraid. There were too many layers to it for him to pinpoint exactly what it was. His own trouble with emotions in general. The way his parents would look at him. The fact that Max fucking deserved what Brady couldn’t even begin to know how to give him. He was so afraid of making it all come crashing down accidentally that he did what Brady did best: he took control, and did it himself. “I’m not afraid,” he lied, his voice low. “I’m telling you how it is. Don’t act like you’re gonna…discover all my dark secrets or some shit and hold my hand through it. I don’t need you to fuckin’ fix me.”

He tried really hard not to let Brady’s words get to him, but they stung nonetheless. He was right. God, he was right. Brady never promised him anything, right from the beginning, and Max knew that. It’s why he never said anything to begin with. At the time, though, it’d just been a harmless thing. A small infatuation he didn’t think would go anywhere. At least until they started hooking up regularly, and that harmless thing started becoming real to Max. “Don’t… do that.” His hurt was bubbling into frustration, and he felt the need to defend himself even if he knew shouldn’t. Should just let this go. But it was Brady, and he couldn’t just ignore this. “I never pressured you, or asked you for shit. And I’m still not. I just want to be honest.” He couldn’t help it all from pouring out now, because they’d already gone this far. May as well just put it all out there. “That night you blame me for? The one where I stayed? You’re the one who pulled me in, Brady. You fucking held me and I didn’t move because I couldn’t. Because I goddamn like you and didn’t want to wake you up. Which, yeah, my bad.” He stood his ground, and he wasn’t going to just apologize and leave. This felt too intense to just leave alone; like Brady was genuinely upset. And Max just didn’t understand why. “You wanna act like we were just passin’ the time? Okay. That’s cool. It could have been an accident, but that doesn’t explain the other times. It wasn’t just me going too far with us. Whether you meant for it or not, dude, it happened. And I’m saying something about it, so it doesn’t get any worse.” So he could just move on from it now. “You don’t owe me anything. But you don’t need to treat me like an asshole over it.” He tensed at Brady’s words, and they stuck with him. What was he even talking about? “I’m not trying to fix you, Brady.” His heart pounded in his chest; he honestly felt sick to his stomach. This was all wrong. “I’m just trying to understand. You’re my best friend. The other stuff doesn’t matter.” Even if it kind of really did. But Brady was his friend first, and he meant that. “But this? This weird defensive shit? I just don’t get it.” Max shook his head, and he looked at him imploringly, silently pleading for him to just freaking talk to him. “Why can’t you just talk to me? It’s me.”

It was weird, Max telling Brady that he had been the one to pull him in. His first reaction was to freeze because he truly hadn’t known. But the more he thought about it, he couldn’t exactly say it was surprising. He knew he had a habit of getting a little overly touchy after they had sex because it was his only excuse to, so it made sense he’d have gone for it. But he had already known how unfair it was for him to lay into Max about it the way he did the following day, so for Max to confirm that it had been Brady himself keeping him there… God, he really needed to get his fucking shit together. But he was also still overwhelmed, and they had already talked about that, and Brady had even apologized. So he didn’t know what else he could say. Maybe he lucked out that Max wasn’t done speaking. “I’m not—” Brady stopped. He closed his eyes, taking a pause to gather his thoughts. “I’m not treating you like anything, okay? I’m telling you the truth.” He wasn’t, not totally. And that wasn’t fair. But fuck, he wasn’t prepared for this.

Once again, Brady was reminded that Max was too fucking good of a person. All he seemed to want to do was understand, but Brady wasn’t ready to share that with him. “It’s not weird defensive shit,” he said, ironically, in defense. “You don’t have to get anything.” Max wasn’t stupid, and of course Brady knew that. He knew that Max could see there was something Brady was pushing down or keeping away from him or whatever it was he thought Brady was dealing with. But he also knew Max probably thought they could talk through it, and maybe they could because Max was good at dealing with problems. But this was…different. So, so different. Probably due to the fact that Brady had never fucking dealt with this before and didn’t even know how he would begin to explain it himself. “It was just sex to me. Is that what you want to hear?” Guilt racked his entire body and Brady knew he was likely being unnecessarily harsh, but he wanted Max to stop wondering and prying about things Brady didn’t fucking want to tell him right now, frankly. “I held you after all the times we fucked so you’d know it didn’t just mean nothing to me. But only because you’re my best friend. It didn’t mean I wanted to be your fucking boyfriend.” The words felt foreign to him, giving him an entirely new and strange sensation the moment they left his lips, but he stuck to his guns and kept his eyes right on Max’s face. “You wanted me to talk to you. So is that what you wanted me to say?”

Maybe Max was being overly defensive. He might have been being unfair, too, pointing all of that out to Brady like he did. It wasn’t just Brady who had a part in things; Max knew fully well that whatever inch Brady gave him he took a mile on. Brady probably didn’t owe him any explanations, but Max kept pushing until they’d gone too far. The whole thing just felt weird. This was tense and bad and not what he’d expected at all. Brady’s words cut through to him like a knife, and it felt like the breath was suddenly knocked out of him. Brady was looking him right in the damn face, and while he’d essentially already told him that, this hurt worse somehow. Max felt nauseous, shaking his head, but not being able to tear his gaze away from Brady’s face. “Okay. I hear you.” His voice sounded all too low to his own ears. It just really stung, and he couldn’t quite wrap his mind around it right now. The bitterness crept into his words as he spoke. “It’s fine that it was nothing to you, dude.” Damn, though, it was something to him. It had started to be an undeniable something. “But we’re not doing this shit anymore. I’m not gonna pretend it meant nothing to me just so you feel better.” Not anymore at least, but maybe that was him just being petty. It was hard to think when it all happened so quick; too quick. He finally tore his eyes away to grab his pants off the floor. “We’re still friends. I’ll get over it. But we’re not fucking anymore.”

Brady knew, realistically, that he didn’t have to say what he said. He didn’t have to throw it back in his face like that. He was just panicking, trying to keep it all together however the hell he could. And that meant not opening up that fucked up can of worms right now. So he would just have to settle for being rude to fully get his point across. “Didn’t ask you to,” Brady shot back, mirroring Max’s action of leaning over to pick up the last of his clothes on the floor. He didn’t want Max to do anything for him. It was far too late for that. He thought they had been on the same page of just…accepting that this was what it was. Brady knew Max, though. He should have known better, been more careful. It shouldn’t have mattered that much to hear Max confirm they weren’t going to do this anymore. It was pretty much what he had expected, to be fair. But it still hit him pretty hard. “Whatever,” he mumbled, in true Brady fashion. “Fun while it lasted, I guess.” He thought maybe he should say something else. The problem was he didn’t know what, and he was so frustrated that this had officially come to an end and annoyed at himself for a whole mess of things that he thought everything would just come out wrong. So instead, Brady breezed past him and out the door of Max’s room, headed toward his own. That was that, he supposed. And it felt pretty fucking shitty.

#CANON #just friends #current verse #009

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braxarchives · 3 years

Text

Crossfaded ― CANON. (current verse)

Brady comes home from a party, not entirely himself. He comes to Max for comfort. NSFW due to heavy mentions of drug use (weed) and alcohol consumption.

“Jesus.” Brady bent down to pick up his keys after they clattered to the floor. He wasn’t entirely positive what time it was, but he knew he’d been out for a while. At least he’d made it home — seriously, thank god for Uber. He finally managed to find his apartment key and essentially burst through the door, with too much force. “Max!” he immediately called out, locking the door behind him. He dragged his feet across the apartment, dropping his keys on the counter and shrugging off his jacket, tossing it onto the couch as he passed. He had definitely smoked more than he drank, but he was still feeling the effects of both. His feet carried him to Max’s room and he gave a half-assed knock before pushing the door open. It’s not like he was worried about finding Max naked or something. Brady’s lanky ass self leaned against the door frame and just looked at Max for a moment. He wasn’t sure how long it was quiet before he said, “Sup.”

Max was minding his own business, sprawled across his bed on his stomach as he busied himself at his laptop. He may have been stuck on YouTube, falling down a rabbit hole of video after random video when he heard a noise clamoring from the living room. If he didn’t instinctively know it was Brady already, then his name being called would do it. His eyebrows rose, but he didn’t move until his roommate was shouldering his way into his bedroom. “Nothin’. Sup with you?” He said in confusion as he sat up, looking at him in half concern, half amusement. He didn’t usually make an entrance like this, so they just kind of looked at each other for one long moment. Max wasn’t sure what exactly was going on here, to be honest. “You okay there, Bradford?”

“I’m good,” Brady immediately insisted, letting himself into Max’s room. He dragged his hand along the wall as he went, playing nonchalant as best as his high ass could. He stopped by Ratthew’s cage to say hello. Then he spun around on his heel to face Max on his bed. “All good, Maxy.” A name Max hated to be called in retaliation for the Bradford he had bestowed upon him. Brady didn’t miss a beat, crawling onto Max’s bed and coming up to join him. Super stealthy. Like a ninja. He rested his head on the pillow beside Max, hugging it close to his face. “What’re you up to?” Brady asked, his eyes slipping shut. Max’s bed had never been so comfortable, he swore.

Max watched him with an odd smile on his face. He wasn’t sure how to react as Brady moved carefully into his room, dragging his hands over his walls and passing by Ratthew like he hadn’t seen him in years. And it suddenly clicked in his mind that Brady might be on something. He was coherent enough to talk, but concern settled in nonetheless. Especially when he was climbing into bed with him like he belonged there. He’d made it clear before that he didn’t just do that for the hell of it. Max shifted, still sitting up but making room for him to lay next to him nonetheless. “Uh. Watchin’ YouTube.” He said slowly, eyeing him carefully. Whatever he’d done had gotten him super messed up, apparently, because normal Brady wouldn’t be just waltzing in his room just to lay next to him while he watched videos. He frowned a little. “What are you up to?” He reached out to push his computer back some so Brady would have room. Max then angled his body to face him, reaching a hand out to rest on his arm - a way to see if he was good. “Brady? You feeling okay?” He said gently as he tapped his arm. “Think you found yourself in the wrong bed.”

“What’s it look like I’m up to?” Brady wasn’t sure what it looked like he was up to, actually. But being in this bed was a good start. “I’m laying down.” It occurred to him Max might have meant what he had been up to, considering Max had been busy all afternoon and Brady hadn’t gotten a chance to talk to him before going out. “Went to a party,” Brady explained. Max was usually with him at parties, but this was one his weird dealer happened to be having, and Brady was still pretty intent on keeping Max separate from that lingering part of his life with seedy people. “Got pretty high. Drank a little.” He was sort of mumbling into the pillow, but he felt like he could still be heard. Max’s hand on his arm caused him to sigh deeply against the fabric, then he pulled his arm free so he could reach over and hold Max’s instead. “I don’ think I’m in the wrong bed,” he countered. He tugged at Max’s arm to pull him closer, draping the arm over his own head as Brady wiggled toward him to tuck himself into Max’s side. “Jus’ wanna lay here.”

Max couldn’t even reply to that. All of this caught him off guard, but as Brady explained, it all made sense. Going to parties weren’t unusual for them, but Brady acting like this when he was high was. He didn’t ask anymore questions, although he was curious. He was always curious about Brady, but he knew when to keep his mouth shut. And now was not a time to press him. “Glad you got home safe.” He murmured before he could stop himself, eyes drifting over him carefully. This was…surreal, but if Brady wanted to lay there, Max wasn’t going to tell him no. He wasn’t expecting him to do much else other than that, figuring it might’ve just been easier to come to his room than his own. But then Brady was tugging him in, and his chest tightened at how fucking cute it was. Dammit. His best friend was cute. And Max really hated it at the moment. He just let himself be dragged in, laying beside him and finding half of his body draped over Brady as his friend pressed into his side. And he tried so, so hard not to read into that, especially after last time, but God. The rush of affection he felt at that moment gave himself away. So he didn’t pull away like he should have, instead moving his arm to wrap around Brady’s shoulders, letting him press against his side. And after a few seconds, Max sighed. “Not sure you’re gonna feel that way in the mornin’, man.” He said as he looked down at his head, dread sinking in. But he let his other arm raise up anyway, brushing over the top of his head, unable to help the gesture, hoping it was comforting somehow. “I should take you to your bed.” But he didn’t move, not yet. He let his fingers comb through Brady’s hair, and he wanted to let him lay there all he wanted. But he wasn’t sure if sober Brady was on the same page, and he didn’t want to invade his space or break his trust. Perhaps too gently, he continued talking to him. “Don’t you want to go to sleep?”

Brady was sort of in that place between not being entirely aware of what he was doing, and being perfectly aware. He knew he was going to remember this the next day; being high never caused him to forget, and he wasn’t nearly drunk enough to black out. But he probably wouldn’t be able to tell you why he immediately wanted to get in Max’s bed and sidle up next to him. His best guess would be that Max was the person who’d never care or judge him for anything he did. So it was easy to justify — Brady had never been crazy about being alone when he was this fucked up and where better to get that closeness than from his best friend? The only difference was Max was usually high too. So like, whatever. Brady didn’t respond to Max’s insistence he wouldn’t think so in the morning, instead focusing on the feeling of his hand in his hair. “I like that,” he told him, because he did. It was just that the only time Max ever did it was when they were sleeping together, obviously. And it’s not like Brady was opposed to the idea of sex right now, even if he was into the idea of just lying here. He also knew his chances were damn near zero and he was sure participation levels might be a little skewed in his current state. It didn’t stop him from smirking at Max’s question and running a hand down to Max’s inner thigh, dangerously close to straight up groping him without actually doing so. “Maybe I don’t wanna sleep.” His hand stayed put where it was, and he sighed. “But if I do I gotta perfectly good bed right here.” He paused. “‘Less you want me to go.”

Something in Max broke hearing Brady say that he liked what he was doing. It was so simple, but it caught him off guard. His hand stilled for a moment as he just let that sink in, and a small smile began to spread across his face. He tried to remember that Brady was high as hell and didn’t know what he was saying, something he’d seen before. The difference was that Max was usually just as bad, and he never recalled them cuddling up like this. It was just… different. “Yeah?” And suddenly he couldn’t hold himself back, because this was Brady and he was literally laying on him like he wanted to be there; like he needed someone. Max further buried his hand in his hair, drawing through it carefully as his fingertips dragged across his scalp. He only stopped when he felt Brady’s hand drop to his inner thigh, and he let out a short surprised laugh. “Okay, not that.” He shook his head as he grabbed Brady’s wrist with his free hand, bringing the hand up to rest it on his chest. “See me tomorrow though. I’ll let you get handsy all y'want then.“ He teased, although he wasn’t sure if Brady would pay much attention to it. The lightheartedness of his tone left when Brady spoke again. And Max hesitated, not sure what he should do. He didn’t want Brady to be uncomfortable in the morning, but he also didn’t want to leave him by himself now. After a long moment, Max shook his head even if he couldn’t see him. "No. I don’t want you to leave.” His thumb dragged along Brady’s knuckles before he let his hand drop to the bed. “We’re just laying here, though. You sure you’re okay with that?” Max paused. “You can watch YouTube with me.” He added, making himself regain the teasing tone as the hand in Brady’s hair continued it’s absentminded motions. “Got any requests?”

“Mhmm. It’s nice.” Brady couldn’t say he was surprised when Max took him by the wrist and removed his hand. Max was too good and—as much as Brady liked to tease him otherwise—too smart to let that go down. Brady simply grinned in response, letting his hand brought up against Max’s chest instead. “That’s nice too.” Maybe it was because his senses right now were…well, sensitive, but almost everything felt nice. Which he was sure only had to do with him being crossfaded. Max saying he didn’t want him to leave made a heavy feeling settle in his stomach. He wasn’t sure he could place it, and he also wasn’t sure he wanted to. So he accepted it and let it go. “I jus’ wanna lay here,” Brady repeated, wanting it to be clear sex hadn’t been the goal, even if he had tried his luck. Brady thought about it, even if he wasn’t sure he wanted to focus on videos right now. Or even could. “Whatever you want.” His body felt heavy, like he was sinking into Max and pressing him down against the mattress, and like, not even in the sexy way. Just in the ‘my limbs feel weird as fuck’ kind of way. It was comforting, though. Safe. And Brady always sought out that feeling when he was waiting to come down from a particularly rough high. “Max.” His voice was deep and slow, and he hadn’t realized he’d closed his eyes again until he realized he couldn’t see whatever Max was going to put on. “You– you’re my best friend. Y’know?” It was posed as a question, like he needed confirmation that Max understood what he was saying. That he knew. “That’s why I… feel…” He trailed off, simply because… he didn’t know. Drunk or high or both or sober as all hell, he just didn’t know. “That’s why I’m here,” he said instead.

Max just clicked the first random video he saw, stretching forward to do so but then coming back to his original position. Brady had never been so… relaxed with him before. At least not in the manner he was now; with his whole body pressed into Max’s. It almost felt like dead weight against him; heavy and insistent. But in no way did Max mind, and not just because he liked being close to Brady, which he did, but that wasn’t the point. He wasn’t even trying to think about how much he liked their closeness right now, because that felt wrong. It was more than that; it felt good that he seemed to trust him so much. And while Max was so deeply confused by this…freely affectionate version of him, he’d let Brady lay on him however long he wanted if it made him feel better. And that’s when it sunk in, all at once. And he’d already kind of known his own feelings before, in a way. He always knew he thought Brady was hot, and that sometimes his stomach would twist when he was around. And maybe, maybe those feelings had been increasing lately. But now faced with him, there and trusting him so much and laying in his bed with him, it was hard to ignore. It wasn’t just some… physical thing, and he couldn’t keep denying it to himself. He really liked Brady. And not just as his best friend, which made Brady’s sentiment hit him even harder. God-fucking-dammit.

“I know. You’re mine too.” His chest felt tight, and his throat suddenly felt dry. The hand fell from his hair to rest across Brady’s back, patting it in what he hoped was friendly enough. And despite the fact that Max was now painfully conscious of the fact that his feelings weren’t just friendly for Brady, he was still one of his best friends ever. And he wasn’t going to be weird about it. “I’ll always be here, dude. I’ve got you.” He said, genuinely, and hoped he understood that. “You don’t have to explain.” Max shook his head, eyes on his screen as he pretended to pay attention to the video he’d turned on. He couldn’t seem to look down at him at that moment. “You can stay as long as you need to.” Max paused briefly. “Just… tell me if you feel sick or anything, alright?”

The weight of Brady’s own body was suddenly somewhat comforting, keeping him right up against Max, his head resting on his stomach. Brady’s arm was stretched across Max’s lap to rest over his thighs, but he wasn’t trying to be slick this time. Max wasn’t telling Brady anything he didn’t already know, but that didn’t mean he didn’t like hearing it all the same. Max meant everything he said; he was genuine like that. It was part of what Brady liked about him so much, had liked from the very moment they met. He was better than Brady in so many ways. Brady was lucky to be that person for Max. So he reminded himself not to fuck it up. One night wasn’t going to do that, though. Especially not with Brady so far gone. They’d be fine. “I’m good,” Brady assured him. He was fairly positive he wasn’t going to be sick or anything like that. Already he was coming out of his haze, and at this point he knew he just needed to sleep it off. “I’m gonna sleep here,” he told Max. It was a statement, just so Max didn’t get any ideas about asking Brady if he wanted to move to his own room. He was too tired for that shit, and a huge part of him just…didn’t want to leave this spot. “You can push me outta your way, though. But good luck. Feel like I weigh a thousand pounds.” He wasn’t even sure if he could move. He’d been in the same position for so long, he couldn’t be sure he wasn’t stuck there. He could hear the video Max had begun playing, but fuck if he was paying any attention to what it was. “Fuck, man, ‘m so tired.” Brady was mumbling again, this time right into Max’s torso instead of the pillow like earlier. “I’m gonna see you tomorrow, bro.”

Having Brady sprawled all over him was surreal to say the least. But it was also…. very fucking cute. And although he was trying so hard not to think those thoughts and be weird around him right now, he couldn’t help it. The arm slung over his lap and his face pressed to Max’s stomach melted his damn heart. And he was tired of trying to pretend like things like this didn’t. Max’s hand, almost of its own mind, ran up and down his back as he laid there. And they just…laid there, for what seemed like simultaneously forever and no time at all. Max tried to act like he was immersed in the video, but all he could focus on was Brady’s breathing and how he was slumped over him, acutely aware of every shift. It wasn’t until he spoke again that Max finally looked back down at him. “Not pushin’ you away.” He smiled, too softly even if Brady couldn’t see it, and ran the hand on Brady’s back up to play with the hair on the back of his neck. He only let a small moment pass before he was responding quietly. “Night, Brady.” —He wasn’t sure when he fell asleep too, but he woke up in a similar position as the night before; Brady still pressed against his side. Max’s arm was still wrapped around him, and he seemed to be completely asleep still. His computer was still by their feet, completely silent now and long forgotten. The urge to stay there with him was strong enough for him to debate to himself for five whole minutes. But after the last time they woke up like this, and after Brady had reacted. He wasn’t so sure if him waking up with them melded against each-other was a good idea. Max swallowed, ignoring his instinct for once, and gently and carefully disentangled himself from his friend. Even at the risk of waking him up. He gently rolled him onto a pillow, running a hand over his hair as he did so, and rolled off the side of his bed. Max shook his head at himself. He had to get ready for a thing he had planned this morning, anyway. So he got up, planning to shower and get ready and try to forget that Brady was still laying in his bed.

The mid morning sun was streaming through the blinds when Brady woke up. He took a moment to stretch out and feel around him. Instantly he recognized he was in Max’s bed — it felt different from his own and everything just sort of smelled like Max (not in like a weird serial killer way, just like, Brady was used to his smell, fuck off). Not to mention the fact Max didn’t have that soft as fuck fleece blanket Brady’s sister had gotten him. He was kind of missing it right this second, knowing it was on his own bed, but whatever. Brady sat up and ran both hands through his hair. He groaned as his muscles slowly woke up with his brain. Man, he’d been really fucking out of it last night. He still remembered, but he was definitely sort of out of this world for a while there, like he’d been floating and watching everything from afar. He should have known he wasn’t going to just end up with any weak shit at the party he’d been at. Mixed with whatever he’d been drinking, it had hit him pretty hard. Brady slid out of the bed and stood up, now fully realizing he was still in his jeans and white t-shirt from the night before. And his shoes. A straight mess. He waited until he was just out of Max’s doorway before kicking them off, mostly because he didn’t want Max to steal them if they ended up still inside his room. Brady cleared his throat as he headed down the hallway and into the kitchen. He found Max there, already all put together and ready for the day, sitting with a bowl of Lucky Charms. “Hey, man.” Brady himself instantly went straight for the cabinet to get his protein shake bottle, figuring he was gonna need this gross shit his siblings liked to drink today of all days.

Brady wasn’t sure how to start the conversation at first; it wasn’t that he felt awkward or weird or anything like that. He mostly just didn’t know what Max was expecting him to say, and Brady didn’t want to have a repeat of last time because it totally wasn’t like that this time. He’d been fucked up, that’s all. No harm, no foul. He focused on putting the ingredients in the bottle before finally beginning to speak. “Gotta be honest, bro. I don’t even know whose shit that was last night,” he said as he turned around, starting to shake the drink to mix it together. “But it got me pretty good.” Of course Max knew that. Brady had come waltzing in like a fucking weirdo. “Sorry I fuckin’ barged in on you like that. I was just… yeah, I mean, you know how it goes.” Max got it, he knew how those things worked. Brady took comfort in that, knowing he could just chill out and breathe because Max would understand. Of course he would. His drink was probably good by now, but Brady didn’t immediately go for a swig. Instead he made his way toward where Max was sitting and reached in front of him for his spoon, taking a much larger than necessary bite of his cereal. “Thanks,” Brady said through the mouthful, even if he certainly hadn’t gotten permission first.

When Brady first walked out, Max didn’t even look up. All he did was scoop a bite of lucky charms into his mouth while scrolling on his phone, his usual morning routine honestly. But this morning was definitely weirder than usual, considering what had happened the night before. He wasn’t sure what to expect from his roommate, but this was all very surprisingly normal. “Hey, dude.” A ‘how’d you sleep’ almost tore from his lips, but he managed to catch himself. A few moments of silence passed where Max scrolled over a meme about rats, and he smiled despite the weird tension he was making himself feel. And that’s the moment Brady started talking, and it begun to sink in that he seemed to be chill about last night. Which was. Very confusing, honestly. “It’s all good, man.” He lied to him, and it felt weird. Wrong. “I know you were out of it. I’d do the same.” Yeah, because Max always snuck into his friends bedrooms to lay on them when he was high. The thought almost made him want to laugh. Which, okay, maybe he got a little touchy too. But even high, he was pretty sure he’d never done that. Still, Brady had been really out of it last night, so he was going to take that answer. Even if something about the whole thing was kinda weird. He let that simmer for a moment, not fully paying attention until Brady was shoving his mouth full of his cereal. “‘Ey!” He exclaimed, previous thoughts momentarily forgotten, and pulled his bowl closer to him. Max pushed Brady’s arm away with his own free arm as he eyed him and the shake in his hand. Yuck. He didn’t know why Brady just didn’t eat eggs or something like a normal person. “Hands off. Drink ya damn sawdust.” But he couldn’t help but laugh nonetheless. “You can’t be all bougie with your protein and come eat my Lucky Charms. Not in this house.”

Brady bit down on his bottom lip as Max told him it was all good. So…that was that, then. They didn’t have to discuss it any further, and it was fine. It wasn’t like Brady was going to argue with that, like, at all. Something did still settle in his chest, though. He wouldn’t call it guilt, but…it was something similar. Almost like he had gotten a slap on the wrist in school or reprimanded by his mom — you know better, Brady. He was being incredibly naive and suddenly way too aware of it. Usually it was easy to act like this was nothing more than what was on the surface. But dammit, Max’s heart was so good. He always had to go and do what he thought was best for Brady, instead of throwing his ass out of his bed and saying he wasn’t going to do this again. All Brady could think about was last time, when he’d really been a dick for no reason other than trying to protect Max from…. something. That was the other thing; Brady couldn’t quite think this shit through because he refused to let himself. He wasn’t sure what he was so afraid of. All he knew was that he was. He hated to keep pulling this shit, knowing he was essentially getting to have his cake and eat it too without thinking much of the consequences. But he didn’t feel like he had much of a choice. Not while he and Max were still in this place where they could rarely keep their hands off of each other but were preserving the foundation they’d built.

Brady kept that in mind, pushing away the lowkey guilt in favor of remembering that he would still have their friendship to fall back on while Max shoved him away from his cereal. Brady gave him a tight-lipped grin as he reeled back and finished the bite in his mouth. “Fuck off, man. That’s a shared box so I’m just moving the sharing part along faster.” Almost just to spite Max giving him shit for it, Brady took a long sip of his protein shake. It was, in fact, disgusting, but it was good for him or whatever the fuck. “You’re just jealous you’re not fit to be a fitness guru,” Brady said as seriously as he could manage, but they both knew Brady doing that bullshit his brother did was a joke and a half. He hoisted himself up on the counter and nodded at Max, a gesture toward the fact that he was all dressed and ready to go. “Where you headed?” he asked. He knew that maybe he shouldn’t just gloss over the whole thing like it was nothing. Maybe he should man up and admit to himself that what happened last night wasn’t because he was high. But he couldn’t. Not yet. Maybe not fuckin’ ever, but especially not yet.

Max was able to forget the weirdness between them for a brief second; distracted by how they slipped into how they normally acted. It was weighing in the back of his mind, though. Because they could talk and act normal all they wanted, but it didn’t change the fact that Brady came to him last night. Not for sex, not to just hang out. And much like the first time it happened, they were brushing it off. And honestly, it stung more than he cared to admit. He told himself he shouldn’t care, but he… kind of really did. Especially after that eye opener he had last night. But now he was super aware of everything. The fact that he was more endeared by Brady eating his cereal than he was annoyed was worrying. “Ah so you’re bein’ lazy this morning.” He teased, and turned to make eye contact as Brady downed his disgusting protein mix. “Yeah I’m really upset I still have my taste buds. How can I be as strong and motivated as you an’ your one muscle?” Max flicked Brady’s bicep with his pointer finger as he stood up, bringing his now near-empty bowl to the sink and running water in it as Brady hopped up on the counter. “Some weird interview thing for YouTube. I was told I’d get to play with some dogs, so I’m just gonna show up hoping for the best.” He leaned against the counter next to his legs and nodded back at him. “What do you have goin’ on? Not planning on staying here pretending to drink that mess all day, are you?”

Brady rolled his eyes. It was weird just how comforting that was, rolling his eyes at Max. It was a reminder that everything was truly back to normal, so Brady could shut his fucking brain up. “You just know I could kick your ass. S’alright, man. I get it’s hard to admit. Your secret’s safe with me.” He wasn’t sure he’d ever stop giving Max a hard time, no matter what happened. But he liked it that way. “Dogs? The fuck? And you didn’t invite me?” Brady shook his head before taking another swig. “See if I ever invite you to literally anything else ever again.” Perhaps he was a bit dramatic, but Brady didn’t fuck around when it came to dogs. Maybe he should hop on that stupid influencer train after all. He slid off the counter and downed the rest of his drink so he could toss the bottle into the sink to join Max’s cereal bowl. “Mind ya damn business, how ‘bout that?” In truth, Brady was going to go for a run and then be aesthetic as fuck and find a Starbucks or something to do some work in. But he liked to keep things mysterious.

Max was still leaning against the counter, and when Brady took in the sight of him, something took over. He knew he wasn’t going to be able to get Max to agree to a quickie since he was going to be heading out the door any minute, but that didn’t stop Brady from standing in front of him, bracing his arms on the counter on either side of him, effectively trapping him there. He hesitated for just a moment, eyes flickering down to Max’s lips before he leaned in and kissed him. He thought maybe it had to do with the fact that they were able to move on from the inevitable conversation about what had happened last night so easily, like Brady wanted him to know they were cool. Which, like…okay, sure, maybe that’s not how you show your bro you’re all good. But Brady and Max weren’t exactly a typical case, so Brady could show it however the fuck he wanted to. When he pulled away, Brady searched his face, a smirk on his own. “Don’t have too much fun with those pups without me.” It was a second too long before Brady pushed off of the counter, turning around and sauntering back toward his bedroom so he could change. He hadn’t the slightest clue what the fuck had gotten into him lately, but his head spun a bit by how comfortable that all felt, and all Brady could think was that… he kind of wanted to call his sister.

Max smiled at the familiar eye-roll and resisted the urge to do the same at him. “And have you cheat on Draco? Please. I won’t be the reason you come home smellin’ like other dogs.” Truthfully this was a spur of the moment thing and Max wasn’t entirely sure there would be dogs there. People tended to make weird things up to get people in their videos. “Gotcha. Sounds fun. I’m jealous.” He replied easily to that; not phased by it in the slightest. Max liked when Brady gave him a hard time; he couldn’t help that he encouraged it. So quickly, though, their normal talking turned into something much less… normal. For them, anyway. Max’s eyes followed Brady as he turned to face him completely, and instinctively Max just knew what was about to happen. Before he could stop to question what was going on in Brady’s mind right now, he was lifting his head up.

Brady’s arms were boxing him in by the counter, but Max wouldn’t have tried to move in that moment anyway. When they kissed, he forgot about all the weirdness that had been going on. He forgot to hide the fact that he liked this so much; that he liked Brady. He just let himself kiss him, hands rising to rest on his waist. Even after they broke apart, Max just looked at him and that stupid smirk of his. And Max honest to God didn’t know what to say. But he didn’t even really have time to say anything as Brady sauntered away, always the one to get the last word. Max stood up straight, clearing his throat as his hand rose to his mouth, hovering as though he were going to touch his lips. But he slowly dropped it to his side. It was then that he began to smile, shaking his head to himself in slight disbelief. This whole thing with Brady made him feel crazy. But right now? He was starting to feel like he wasn’t so crazy. Max tried not to read into things with him, but Brady wouldn’t just kiss him for no reason. Brady wouldn’t just lay with him on two separate occasions just for the hell of it. And Brady wouldn’t look at him the way he did sometimes just because they were best friends.

Right? Maybe things weren’t as one-sided as he thought, after all.

#CANON #crossfaded #current verse #008

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braxarchives · 3 years

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Harry Potter and the Snuggly Bros ― CANON. (current verse)

The two have a Harry Potter marathon. When they fall asleep together, things get confusing for both parties.

God, Brady really was a fucking genius sometimes. Having a marathon of all of the Harry Potter movies again on a whim, just for the hell of it? An incredible idea on his part. He had of course invited Max to join him, and he planned on likely staying up too late every night until they finished. “The thing I love most about these movies is like… the immersion, y’know?” Brady lounged back against the pillows on his bed, his laptop sitting at the foot of it between he and Max’s legs. “Like you enter this universe and feel totally a part of it and that doesn’t go away till after you’re done.” He supposed that were the case for a lot of movies and books and shit like that, but for him it was especially true with HP. That was why he hadn’t gotten sick of them yet. Well, as a whole. Because right at this moment, they were just about halfway through the first one and Brady could already feel himself fighting to get through more of the movies through his tiredness. Maybe they should have started a little bit earlier. “But sometimes I also wonder if we are in this universe and I’m just a muggle. And they made a whole cinematic universe to throw us off and make us think it’s fiction.” He paused and turned to Max, eyes wide. “Or the Colonel hid my letter when I turned eleven. Fuck, man. I might be a wizard.”

Max really hadn’t had anything better to do when Brady called him to his room for a Harry Potter marathon. But even if he did, he’d honestly drop whatever he was doing for it. They’d done this before, honestly, but he knew they both could sit through them again and again without getting bored. He was stretched out beside him, back supported by the pillow Brady wasn’t currently hogging. At Brady’s commentary, Max tore his eyes away from the laptop, smiling a little at his friends excitement. He wouldn’t say it, but it was — sweet that Brady got so worked up over Harry Potter. It was one of the reasons why he liked watching them with him so much. “Yeah, man. That’s how Star Wars feels too. Really pulls you into it. Can you imagine how dope it’d be to be a student at Hogwarts? All those freakin’ magic meal times. The hell would anyone wanna leave?” He wished every meal he had was all spread out like that, for real. Brady’s expression made him laugh, and he briefly turned his gaze back to the laptop, still grinning at the screen. “Maybe you are. Could be so powerful that they can’t track ya down and send your real letter here. Question is would you use your powers for good or evil?”

“Yeah man, for sure.” Even though Brady knew he could never really get into Star Wars, despite having sat his ass down and watched every single one of them with Max. He figured it had to be a Cameron thing. “You would only care about the food,” Brady pointed out, shaking his head with that stupid fondness only Max really managed to pull from him. “Wouldn’t that be fucking sweet? I’ve tried, though. Accio never works.” Everyone had tried that shit at one point, and if they said they didn’t they were lying. Brady stretched out, one arm coming up to rest behind his head. “Good, man, obviously. I couldn’t pull off that death eater shit.” As much as he liked to believe that he was a Slytherin, the Gryffindor in him was strong. Brady tilted his head, keeping his focus on the screen while still being acutely aware of Max’s presence beside him. And any other time, it would be clear where this was headed, but Brady wasn’t even thinking like that right now. He was just enjoying Max’s presence. As his best friend, like he always had. “I dunno if I’m even gonna make it to number two, man, shit,” Brady admitted, bringing a hand up to run over his face. “This was easier when I was twenty. I’m way too old now.” Largely due to the fact that he had a shitty sleep schedule lately.

“No, I care about Quidditch, too. And Dumbledore. And Hermione. Older Hermione obviously.” Max listed absentmindedly, only smiling again as Brady’s inner Harry Potter fan showed itself again. “Maybe you should keep practicin’. Magic probably never works the first time.” He teased, fully rolling his head over to look at him now, screen momentarily forgotten. “Yeah, it would not be a good look for you. Way too pale.” Max laughed, and he shifted to make himself more comfortable. He’d been in Brady’s bed more often than not lately, but not in this capacity. And it was… really nice. Being this close to him made something in him want to inch closer, but he stilled himself before he could really do that. That’s not what friends did; that’s not what they ever did. Unless they were giving each other reasons to be close. "Don’t worry about it, old man. I am too.“ He lied, seeing Brady run a hand over his face. If he was tired, he wanted him to sleep. He knew he didn’t do that as much as he should. And not nearly as much as Max did; hence why he was still wide awake for the time being. "If you fall asleep, I’ll stop it so we can pick up tomorrow night. Don’t want you to miss your spot, then you might not know what’s goin’ on.” Jokes, obviously, since Brady would know what’s going on way better than Max would. His knowledge was impressive, not that he’d ever told him that.

Brady grinned, if only because he could so picture Quidditch being Max’s thing. “I dunno. Pretty sure I’d know it by now,” he pointed out. He hadn’t had any magical owls harassing him and shit over the last decade for having missed his letter, as far as he was aware. Brady rolled his eyes slightly. “Shut up, man. I can pull off whatever I want to.” He turned his head to look at Max, who was already facing him. It only lasted a split second, so quick Brady himself wasn’t sure he was really registering it fully since he was still sort of getting used to this new level of things, but for the most fleeting moment as he met Max’s eyes the thought crossed his mind that he could kiss him if he wanted to. And it would probably lead to sex if he did. But it also didn’t have to, he could just… do it. Except that that would mean something Brady didn’t want it to. The idea slipped away almost as soon as it came to him, and Brady blinked before turning back to focus on the movie. He laughed lightly, nodding. “Right. Clearly don’t know a whole lot about these movies,” he mumbled. Still, he appreciated the fact that Max was willing to put it on hold if Brady couldn’t keep it together. It wasn’t easy to stay awake when he was lying in his own bed, watching something that held such a comforting familiarity for him. He made it through the first one, at least. Once the credits started to roll Brady gave himself a mental pat on the back for pulling through. His stubborn ass glanced at Max and nodded in the direction of the screen. “Put on the next one. I’m feelin’ it,” he told him, although the fact he didn’t even want to sit up to put on the next movie himself spoke volumes.

“Maybe. I dunno. If you were supposed to be at Hogwarts, then I would be there too. We’d have to meet somehow. So maybe they just weren’t ready for the two of us.” Shame, though. Max would have actually liked school growing up then. “I know, I’ve seen you pull off things a few times now.” He said before he could stop himself, his normal grin on his face as Brady turned to face him. And he shouldn’t have said that, but Max really shouldn’t say or do a lot of the things he does. His heart leapt in his chest and the thought that he should probably keep that under control around Brady. But that was easier said than done. “Nah. Maybe we’ll test it. I’ll turn you into a Death Eater sometime. Not for a video or anything, just for fun.” He joked, and tore his gaze away from Brady to look back at the laptop, where they watched the ending scenes. He stayed quiet as he focused and hiked the pillow under his back up higher, the movement causing his shoulder to brush against Brady’s. And they accidentally - and purposefully - touch pretty often now, but it still kind of made his stomach flip excitedly every time. And he damn sure noticed. “You sure?” He cleared his throat as he sat up a little to look at him. He knew that there was no arguing with him about this franchise, though. Max sat up and angled his long ass body forward to do what Brady asked, talking as he did so. “But I’m cuttin’ you off at three. If we watch them all tonight then we have nothin’ to look forward to.” He turned on number two and came back to fall beside him again, this time a little closer than before. It wasn’t intentional, but he also wasn’t bothering to move any. “Who did you wanna be when you were a kid?“ Max asked, randomly from beside him. "I always thought Ron was so cool.” He was told he was wrong, but that was okay. Everyone had their opinions.

“Well yeah. ‘Course you’d be there. Wouldn’t be the same without being able to tell you and all your Hufflepuff buddies how much you suck.” Clearly the lamest house, and Max (and everyone else) knew it. Brady hummed in response, pressing his lips together in a failed attempt to suppress the smile at Max’s words. He was still somewhat getting used to this braver side of Max, the part that was no longer worried about saying that blatant shit to Brady. He couldn’t say he disliked it, though. Except for the part where Max’s smug ass was just trying to get a reaction out of him. He nodded when Max asked if he was sure. “Fuck yeah. Ready for some Chamber of Secrets action.” Even if it was one of the worst movies in the franchise, according to Brady. And Brady knew his shit. He watched Max lean forward to press play on the second one, not so discreetly eyeing him as he did, but Max couldn’t see him from his current position, and Brady counted that as a win. “Shut up, man. There’s plenty to look forward to.” What exactly he meant, he wasn’t sure. But it wasn’t like he wouldn’t be down to start all over again. “I’m sure you did. More of a Sirius Black guy myself." Max was probably right, though, about cutting off at movie number three, considering Brady wasn’t positive he’d be seeing the rest of two tonight. He could feel himself essentially sinking further into his mattress as the minutes progressed. He knew he needed to get his sleep schedule back to something normal―and like, healthy―but that didn’t stop him from staying up too late to edit something he didn’t necessarily need to yet, or just fucking around online or watching movies. He’d get his shit together eventually. Tonight, though, it was definitely catching up to him. They weren’t all that far into the movie by the time Brady’s eyes were feeling heavy, and he kept minor conversation going with Max as they went, but it definitely wasn’t like their normal, easy back and forth banter while he was so tired. He kept his eyes on the screen until he physically couldn’t anymore, and he didn’t really think much about it, or about anything really, as he started to drift to sleep right there.

"Shut up, man. Last time I ever tell you any of my secrets.” Brady was the only person he’d ever freely admitted he was a Hufflepuff too and frankly he didn’t appreciate this call out. But Max was quick to forgive, especially when Brady didn’t automatically tell him to shut up at his comment. A strange sense of pride gathered in his chest seeing him smile, and he found himself smiling back. They chatted back and fourth throughout the movie, exchanging absentminded commentary until Brady’s voice began to get slower; sleepier. Max made himself quiet down, hoping that he’d finally fall asleep. After a few moments, he turned his head once more to see if his suspicions were correct. The gentle rise and fall of his chest and how relaxed he seemed was a dead giveaway, and he found himself smiling a little too softly at the sight. Max very slowly sat up so as to not wake him, peering at him to make sure he didn’t. And instinctively, he reached out, set to brush his hand over his hair for no fucking reason, except for the fact that he wanted to. But he stopped, shaking his head at himself, and carefully moved to stop the movie. After closing the laptop and moving it to the side so it wouldn’t get trampled in Brady’s sleep, he carefully crawled back up the bed to grab his phone from the bedside table. It was then that he accidentally brushed against Brady once more, and he froze, hoping that little bit didn’t wake him up on accident.

Brady’s eyes just barely opened when he felt a touch against his elbow. The arm behind his head came down re-actively to his side and he tried to get his bearings, still half asleep. The room was dim and quiet, like it typically was when he was sleeping, obviously. He turned over and recognized a presence beside him. Very quickly he understood that it was Max. And if this were a month ago, he might have thought what the fuck and jumped a mile away. But even though his tired haze, he was used to this. Finding Max in his bed was nothing new to him since they had started sleeping together. Brady figured that was the case as usual. As if by instinct, as he rolled onto his side he reached an arm over Max’s waist, and pulled him in. Brady’s nose pressed against Max’s shoulder as he settled back in. It wasn’t weird. It wasn’t even different. It was what they did, and they wouldn’t talk about it or anything that preceded it the next day. And maybe, when he was fully awake, the selfish part of Brady certainly took this for granted; the fact that he could be intimate with Max and then blame it all on the afterglow. But that was how he needed things to be, frankly. So it was what he would keep telling himself, when he wasn’t falling right back to sleep beside his friend.

Max was expecting Brady to mumble something at him and tell him to stop moving, or to wake up and pretend like he wasn’t tired again. What he most definitely was not expecting was the arm sliding around Max’s waist. And it positively shook him. His whole body froze as he let himself be pulled in by his friend, and suddenly his heart was hammering in his chest so hard he couldn’t think. Those dumb…. butterflies, or whatever the hell anyone wanted to call them, were suddenly painfully present as Brady’s face pressed against his shoulder. And fuck, Max knew he was asleep. And he knew he should wake him up and not be a shady asshole. But then there was a chance Brady might not go back to sleep. Max contemplated his options for a good minute as he tried to get over how good it felt to just be like this. He wanted to lean into it; to press himself closer. But that wasn’t right. Unless… Brady wasn’t sleeping. The thought made his hopes rise too high, and Max immediately shut them down. It didn’t take long for him to realize there was no way out of this, though, and that he’d somehow have to deal with Brady snuggling him all night. Being gay for your best friend was a real bitch sometimes. Slowly, he relaxed into it, allowing himself to just lay there and accept it. His eyes eventually drifted closed, and his phone slipped to the bed beside him as he found himself relax completely. He hadn’t been tired before, but something was lulling him at that moment. That something being Brady, but he didn’t want to dwell. Not now. His mind now relaxed and half-asleep, Max’s hand rose to rest against the arm around his waist, turning a bit so he was laying on his back – nearly facing Brady. And almost too fast, he was finally asleep.

—-When morning rolled around, Brady slowly came to, breathing in deeply before he even managed to open his eyes. And there was just… Max. Overwhelming his senses. Brady didn’t even want to admit how nice he felt, the warmth in his chest as he realized his lips were just close enough to touch the skin below Max’s ear and his nose was nuzzled in his hair behind it. But Brady only let himself think about that for a moment before he finally opened his eyes and pulled himself together. This was… a lot. Maybe too much, even when he thought about all the other times he’d woken up with Max after a night together and thought nothing of it. He’d never woken up with this pit in his stomach before. Brady carefully started to move away, putting some distance between them so he could start to figure this out. The first thing he noticed was that he was fully clothed and there were a few things wrong with that, the first being that was literally never the case falling asleep after sex, and he also slept shirtless almost every night. So he realized all at once he must have fallen asleep accidentally. Brady sat up, running a hand through his hair, then turned to look down at Max sprawled out on his pillow. It begged the question now — why the fuck was Max here in his bed, and more than that, why was Brady straight up snuggling the fuck out of him? Questions he wasn’t sure he even wanted to know the answer to. He looked away from Max, pulling his knees up to his chest and rubbing his hands over his face. God dammit. He didn’t want to have to think about shit like this, but he felt so unsettled at the idea of just having wanted to cuddle with Max for the hell of it. That wasn’t what they were doing. It wasn’t what this was. Brady didn’t want that to become a thing. Not… now.

Somewhere in Max’s subconscious, he felt the breath on his skin and the nose nestled into his hair. It began to seep into his brain what, or rather, who it was coming from. He pressed his body back against the figure behind him, seeking more before he could stop himself. And only then did he begin to stir, huffing a small breath in as he began to wake up. It took him a few moments to open his eyes, but once he did, he squinted at his surroundings. Groggily, he sat himself up, automatically knowing where he was and who he was with. The events that happened right before he passed out began to creep into his brain, and his eyes flickered to Brady, who seemed to be still waking up himself. He wondered if Brady knew if they’d fallen asleep how they did, or if they’d broken apart in their sleep. “Mornin’.” He said with a tired sort of grin, before a yawn took over his face. He ran a hand through his hair as he tried to wake himself up more, and looked over to study his face, and he didn’t know how to feel. Was Brady really still snuggling him this morning? The thought made his chest feel heavy, and he wanted to smile. And more than that, he wanted to lean over to him again. Wanted to just lay against him and go back to sleep, but he knew that was wrong. And that’d been an accident. And God even knows how Brady was feeling about it right now. Cautious, but trying not to let onto it, Max asked, “How’d you sleep?”

“Hey.” Brady took in the sight of him, just-waking-up Max being a sight he’d seen for three years now. Nothing was new, so why did Brady have that weird feeling settling in his stomach? Like he’d done something wrong. He just couldn’t quite understand why. At Max’s question, Brady shrugged. “Alright. Guess I kinda needed it.” He wrapped his arms around his legs and got quiet for a moment. He was piecing it together as he became more awake. He knew that they’d been watching Harry Potter. It was just… he couldn’t figure out why he didn’t remember them fooling around at all between that and Brady passing out. Because they hadn’t, clearly. He was just sort of forcing himself to doubt that. “Did we, um.” He stopped himself, because he didn’t know if he should even say anything and also wasn’t sure he was prepared for any actual answers. “We weren’t drinking or anything last night, were we?” he finally asked, his gaze focused on his hands clasped together in front him. “I know Chamber of Secrets was on at some point but I gotta be honest, don’t really remember like, falling asleep. And I usually remember when you’re—” He stopped again because didn’t have a good alternative this time. He shook his head. “Guess it doesn’t matter. Whatever.” He didn’t want to get all pissy about it, but mornings already weren’t Brady’s favorite thing, so stressing about whatever bullshit his subconscious wanted to pull last night was only adding to the general crankiness. Fucking snuggling Max for no goddamn reason. It was another situation where past Brady would punch present Brady in the face for even suggesting it. Only this time present Brady also wanted to punch present (albeit unconscious) Brady.

“Guess so. You knocked out right at the beginning. Don’t worry, saved your spot for you.” He looked at him carefully, noticing the way he was hugging his legs. “No?” He asked, confused as his brow furrowed. “No. Uh. We just fell asleep. I was tired too,” he lied. Max hadn’t been tired at all until Brady’s arm was pulling him against him, but he couldn’t exactly just tell him he was snuggled to sleep. It was clear he was aware of it, anyway. But something about Brady at that moment seemed off; unsure of himself. It put a bad feeling in his gut. But nonetheless, his stupid mouth could never seem to get on the same page as his brain. “Hey, don’t worry about it, man.” He told him, genuinely, and reached out to place a hand on his arm in an effort to get him to look at him. “I didn’t mind it.” He admitted a little quietly as he looked imploringly at the side of his face, and saying that to him made his heart kind of jump in his chest. “We were just sleeping. We do that lots of times.” And they had. But they both knew it wasn’t out of the blue. And maybe that’s why his stomach kept doing weird somersaults just by looking at him right now.

“So you just… stayed here.” Brady wasn’t trying to accuse, because like, it was whatever if Max just fell asleep. He was just trying to put it all together in his head so he didn’t go into full blown panic mode about sharing ridiculously intimate moments without an excuse. When Max touched his arm, Brady didn’t move, but Max telling him he didn’t mind it sort of flipped a switch. He wasn’t sure what the hell Max meant by that, exactly, but the thought alone was enough to make Brady’s heart race a little. He angled his body, both so he could look at him better and also so he could pull his arm away from Max’s touch. “We end up just sleeping, after we… We don’t just—” His mind couldn’t catch up with his words, so he just stopped altogether. Brady rubbed at his face again. “Whatever,” he repeated. His fucking catchphrase at this point. “Glad you didn’t mind sleeping in my bed.” He moved to get up out of the bed, grabbing his phone and slipping it into his pocket. “Gonna go take Draco for a walk.”

Those words immediately caused his guilt from the night before to hit him tenfold. “I didn’t want to wake y'up.” He mumbled, a little defensively, shoulders tensing a little. But God, he also felt a little wrong for it. Because it’s not like he didn’t enjoy it. Max was left with that awful feeling that he should have just woken him up after all. “You – it just happened.” He tried to explain as Brady angled his body away from him, and Max’s hand fell to the bed below him. Hurt and guilt and confusion gathered all at once, and he wasn’t quite sure what was happening right now. Max moved to the edge of the bed, looking at Brady in confusion while he gathered his things. “C'mon, man. Please don’t be upset. You can’t help what you do in your sleep.”

Brady knew that in reality, he had no right to place any actual blame on Max. He’d invited the dude into his bed to watch movies, and lord knows he’s do it again. He was still his best friend. If the roles were reversed, maybe Brady would have accidentally fallen asleep in Max’s bed too. But something about it had Brady super on edge, more than likely the fact that all of this meant something he wasn’t going to let himself even consider at the moment. Like maybe it wasn’t a crime to want to be close to Max in that way, but Brady was predisposed to think so. “Sounds a little like you could’ve,” Brady said, looking pointedly at Max. It probably wasn’t fair, but defensive mode was in full swing at this point. “I‘m not sleeping next to you every other time just for the hell of it, Max.” His own words wiped that warmth away from his chest all too quickly and replaced it with something much less pleasant. And that feeling alone could’ve told him everything he needed to know right there. But he wasn’t going to say otherwise.

He could feel that something was super off. He wasn’t stupid, he knew when Brady was upset. He was always jokingly a little rude, but Max never took that to heart. In fact, Max always thrived off of it. But the edge in his words right now was different, and Max was painfully aware that he’d messed up somehow. Done too much. “You know what? You’re right. I could have.” He said, quietly, meeting his gaze. “And I’m sorry. Next time I won’t stay.” He didn’t need to say that, but he was a little stung. Especially when Brady had to go and say that. “No one asked you to, Brady. I didn’t make you do anything.” He swallowed whatever else he wanted to say and shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. Have a good walk, dude. I’ll be gone by the time you get back. Going out.” He finally broke his gaze away from him and flickered his eyes around the bed, and fuck, he felt stung when he had no right to feel that way. Max reached across the bed and grabbed the phone before rolling off the side and onto to his feet, avoiding his gaze now. “Tell Draco I said hi.”

—-It was mid afternoon by the time Brady caught up with Max again. As the latter had promised, he was gone when Brady and Draco returned from their walk. Brady got some parts of a video done, left for lunch, and eventually settled back at home for a Netflix break. He couldn’t help but pick up on the fact that throughout all of it, the early morning conversation kept popping up in his head. He wasn’t blind; he could see Max’s dejected look as soon as Brady started being an ass to him. And as much as Brady liked to pick on Max, he never wanted to actually hurt him. It was a shitty move on his part as a friend and he knew he was going to have to make it right eventually. He sat on the couch with his feet propped up on the coffee table, arms crossed over his chest as he mindlessly watched the documentary he’d put on. He wasn’t sure where Max had gone off to, but he perked up just slightly the sound of his key in the door. Brady stayed put, waiting until Max was in his line of sight and looked right at him. “Sup,” he said nonchalantly, nodding at the blond in greeting, like always.

Max hadn’t just left dramatically for no reason. Well, okay, that wasn’t entirely true. But he did have some things to do. He’d gone to the gym and mapped out his future videos - normal stuff. It probably wasn’t necessary that he hung out at his friend Sophie’s for a few hours after that, although honestly that was a normal occurrence. But his motivations behind it were maybe a little dramatic. He knew it wasn’t that big a deal; told himself that. But he was nervous to walk in, wondering if Brady would still be upset from this morning. Max couldn’t help but feel like he’d crossed a line, and that’s the last thing he wanted to do with him. But when he walked in, its as it always was. Brady’s normal ‘sup’ reached his ears, and he felt him relax somewhat. “Sup.” He replied in turn, walking through the door and setting his keys on the counter. Part of him was still really embarrassed, but he played it off by glancing at the TV so he wouldn’t have to look right at him, nodding as he spoke. “Whatcha watchin’?”

Brady followed Max’s gaze, looking at the screen. “Uh, Blackfish.” Which he had seen like three times already. It was more of an excuse to sit on the couch and try to focus on something than anything else. He tapped his fingers against his arm for a moment, then sighed and pushed himself to sit up. He really needed to figure out how to swallow his pride and talk shit out. This was one of those times. “Okay, just.” The only problem was that he straight up didn’t know how to do that most times, not when his emotions were all heightened and weird. So he had to figure out what he even wanted to say and go from there. “Listen. I’m sorry I was in a mood this morning. You didn’t do anything. I’m just. ‘Cause it was different—“ He lowered his voice at the last word, like it was a secret. “You know what I mean.” Or he hoped, because Brady really didn’t want to explain what he meant. Talking he could do, but that whole shitstorm was for another day. “Just. I’m sorry, alright? I didn’t mean to be an ass.”

“Really tryna make yourself cry, huh?” He remarked at the documentary, but it lacked his usual humor. He wanted to say something to him, because he still felt so awkward, but before he could - Brady beat him to it. Max turned his head as he heard the tone shift, finally looking at his face. “Look, man.” He said quietly. “It’s fine, alright? I know it was different.” Not in a bad way. Not at all, but something told him he shouldn’t say that to him right now. Not after he’d reacted this morning. “It was my fault, too. I…could have left. I should have left.” Max corrected himself. He may not have initiated contact, but he’d stayed in it. And that was honestly just as bad. Max sighed and walked over to the couch, sitting down beside him. “You were an ass.” He agreed, and it was only then that he allowed his usual grin to creep onto his face. “But I can take it. You forget who you’re talkin’ to. We’re good, man. Promise.” He reached out to clap him on his arm, so much different from when he’d reached out to him earlier. Letting his hand fall back to the couch, he ignored how the whole thing still kind of bugged him. Because as bad as Brady had reacted about it, Max still remembered how it felt to wake up in his arms. And it was kind of hard to forget. But Max did what he always did in weird situations - he joked. Only it wasn’t really a joke after all. “Do you really wanna sit here through this documentary? Or…” Max raised his eyebrows as he dropped his hand to Brady’s leg. He hoped he wasn’t out of line with this either, but Brady hadn’t rejected him the other times. So strangely… he felt way more comfortable with this than he did talking about the fact that they’d snuggled the night prior. Because he knew Brady would be okay with this. It was their new normal. “Wanna come back with me to my room? Promise there won’t be any sleepin’ this time.”

Brady bit down on the inside of his cheek to keep from saying…well, anything. He really wasn’t good at this sort of thing. And hearing Max talk about it kind of confirmed that it was more, the more that Brady wanted to avoid even considering. So it made him shift in his seat as Max went on. But at least he was forgiving him. Brady was a lot of things, but he tended to pride himself on not genuinely being a jerk to the people he cared about most, and being able to apologize to those people when he was. The hand on his arm didn’t cause him to want to run away, so he took that as a good sign. God, he really needed to just fucking remember that Max was his friend. None of that other shit mattered more than that. It was Brady’s whole reasoning behind all of this — not losing that. But that didn’t mean things couldn’t still be different between them. Just the different that they were already used to now. Brady glanced down at the hand on his leg and then back up at Max. He was getting real tired of him and his brand new cocky bullshit. Mostly because it never failed to make him smile. “Jeez, Cameron. You gotta buy me dinner first.” The way he leaned in toward Max to immediately press a kiss to his neck entirely contradicted his words, though. He wished he had had more to say when he was trying to have a real conversation, but this was enough. They were good. They didn’t have to talk about it again, and Brady was going to count this as a win.

#CANON #harry potter and the snuggly bros #current verse #007

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braxarchives · 3 years

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Taking Brady to Space ― CANON. (current verse)

Brady lets Max tattoo him on camera. It’s kind of sick.

They’d just started filming, their friend Aliyah nice enough to come over to capture this moment in all it’s glory. It was a spur of the moment video, but honestly, all of the good ones are. “Hey guys. Uh. We’ve got a weird one for you today. Bradford here has decided to let me put needles to his skin for some reason.” Max began as slipped his gloves on, and he couldn’t help but grin wildly to himself as he did so. He turned his head to Brady, who was sitting at the counter along with him. They were doing this out of their kitchen, but he’d made sure everything was sanitary. Well, as sanitary as they could get. “How you feeling, dude?” He let the material of the glove snap against his skin like he was scrubbing up for surgery. And his wild grin dropped somewhat, still enough for the cameras but enough to let Brady know he was being serious. They could stop if he wanted to. “Still down for your mystery tattoo?”

Brady knew the second he actually agreed to this that this should be his official clue that he was losing it. Never in a million years did he think he would even consider the idea of Max legitimately giving him a tattoo, but he had made an extremely compelling case, which was that it would probably be fun, and who was Brady to argue with that? Brady gave his usual somewhat half-assed wave to the camera, only this time with a less half-assed grin he couldn’t seem to wipe away from the excitement. “Sup.” Now he was just gonna go ahead and pretend the camera wasn’t there. “Feeling fantastic,” he replied, watching everything Max did carefully. This was lowkey hilarious so Brady was excited, but it was also Max about to permanently mark his skin, so Brady was keeping an eye on things. Brady raised his eyebrows at the question. “I’m not gonna be if you keep asking me.” He hopped off the counter to sit in the chair they’d placed there instead, resting his arm up on the counter, forearm up. “But if you put your fucking name on me I’m gonna kick your ass.”

When Brady didn’t change his mind, Max let his own excitement rise to the surface. With Brady sliding off the counter and into the chair, Max turned in his chair and looked down at the forearm he was presented with. “You’re facing the wrong way, dude, I thought this was an ass tat.” He replied easily. This was really happening, and he was low-key nervous, but mostly just excited. When would he ever get a chance to tattoo his best friend again? Max grabbed one of the wipes he’d set out on the counter and ripped it open, grasping Brady’s forearm with his left hand as he wiped the space gently. “Yeah? How hard you gonna kick it?” He glanced up at Brady with a playful smirk, meeting his eyes. “Beat me up, Daddy, I ain’t scared.” He heard Ali say something from behind the camera, and tried not to laugh too loud as he angled his body to grab the machine. “Don’t worry. I’ve got a good one for you. Trust me.” He nodded to Brady, proudly. “I’ve been practicin’ for you.” On paper, though. Which is… probably most definitely not the same. “Okay, man. You ready?”

“You wish.” And so did all of Max’s weird fans, he was sure. Brady certainly wasn’t about it. At Max’s comment, Brady rolled his eyes, because of course he did. He turned to Aliyah holding the camera, feeling weird that it wasn’t him, but regardless said, “Hey guys, quick update, the channel’s actually got a new cameraman permanently, ‘cause I can’t stand this shit anymore.” He couldn’t wait to find that in a ‘Brady quitting Max’s channel’ compilation soon. “I am fuckin’ trusting you, dude, obviously,” Brady said, looking down at the spot he was soon going to have… something on. “As I’ll ever be. Just do it, bro.” He might have been getting a little nervous now, but lord knows he didn’t show it. He kept a straight face as he watched.

Max nearly bit his tongue to stop himself from replying to that, knowing Ali was right there. “You know what? Good thing you announced it so I didn’t have to tell you myself. Why do you think Ali’s here? She’s already got the job.” He threw back easily, all too used to the quitting threats. If Brady really wanted to leave, he’d be far gone by now. And he most definitely wouldn’t be allowing him to permanently tattoo his body. “Okay, just checking. Tattoo consent is important, dude.” He said, equally as excited as he was nervous. He gripped the tattoo gun tightly and began to angle it towards Brady’s arm, hesitating before he even touched the skin. He held onto Brady’s arm as steady as he could, and with a soft exhale he pressed the tip to his skin. And shit, okay, that was way different from paper. He made the smallest of movements, trying so hard not to jerk his hand in shock. But he continued on, and he wanted to look up at Brady’s face to see if he was okay — but if he looked away from his arm he might lose his place. “How we doin’? You okay?” He paused. “No peeking, by the way. You’re not allowed ‘till it’s done.”

“Yeah? Don’t come cryin’ to me when people complain about the different style.” Brady had been here too long for Max to just switch things up so suddenly and they both knew it. Hella job security. He watched Max prepare for about twenty fucking minutes, clearly hesitating, but Brady could possibly see why when the needle touched his skin and he was met with… a very unpleasant feeling he had never experienced before. He did his best not to show his clear discomfort to the camera, but he couldn’t help but close his eyes and bite down on his lip. It was a weird sensation, like a really fucking painful scratch that also felt hot. Brady didn’t know what he expected otherwise. “Yup.” His response was only a little choked, and Brady cleared his throat once he noticed and remembered Aliyah had the camera on him. “Shut up, I’m not looking.” Perhaps he was a little more on edge now with the unpleasant experience going on, but he tried to remind himself it’d (hopefully) be dope when it was done. He tilted his head back so that when he finally reopened his eyes, it was up at the ceiling, not at what Max was doing. “Christ, I can’t believe I agreed to this.” The amusement was clearly creeping back into his tone, and he was sure he’d be laughing again soon. “Think it’s just that I don’t trust you but it feels like it’s gonna be a dick and I’ll straight up fuckin’ end you, man.”

“Excuse you. Unlike some people, I trust Ali’s style.” Max soon got to work on creating his masterpiece, and it was so weird to know he was literally permanently tattooing Brady’s arm right now. Honestly, he was a little nervous to get this just right, because as hilarious as this all was he did want him to like it. As he began to make longer movements, it was like he could feel Brady tense up, and the clearing of his throat made him pause. Max stilled his hand, very careful not to lose his spot, and rolled his eyes up to look at him. “Sure about that? ‘Cause I’ll stop right now.” He joked lightly, the thumb of the hand holding Brady’s arm steady brushing subtly against his skin to try to soothe him somehow, small enough to not be fully visible on camera. Even if it was kind of weird since he was wearing gloves. Max looked back down, relieved to see he didn’t mess up irrevocably just by looking away. It gave him a newfound confidence to finish it up, and he started smiling to himself uncontrollably as it came together. “You agreed ‘cause you can’t say no to my ideas. And you shouldn’t, 'cause I… have pulled through for ya. You’re gonna lose your shit, dude. In a good way.” He said, his excitement settling in as he finished the few remaining touches. “Hey now, you never said no dicks. Guess our next video can be a tattoo removal then.” He made one last, small movement, and set the machine on the towel sitting on the counter. He stared down at his work, all too proudly. He felt like he was beaming, but damn. "Brady.“ He was having a whole ass moment. “You look so sick.” Max clasped his gloved hands together and raised them in front of his face, preparing for the reaction. “Okay, I have no words. You can look now.”

Brady wanted to tell him to shut up again because it was just what he was used to doing, and it felt especially right now that he was all tense, but he felt Max’s thumb brushing over his arm and he didn’t say anything. The clearly comforting gesture was anything but, causing Brady’s stomach to twist a little bit. Maybe he was overthinking it, but although they’d always been close they weren’t ever really physically comforting or generally touchy like that before… yeah. Brady shifted a bit in his seat, careful not to move his arm too much, but shook the thought away because it didn’t matter right now. “Uh, I can definitely say no to your ideas,” Brady countered, quickly getting back to their regularly scheduled bullshit. “Like you trying to get me to jump off cliffs and shit.” Brady rolled his eyes, shaking his head. When he’d finally finished, Brady dropped his head so he could look down at it, and… holy shit. It was dope. “Dude,” Brady said through a laugh, bringing his arm up closer to his face to really look at it. It was all red and still sort of stinging, but Max had pulled through after all. A little alien holding a joint. It really captured Brady’s essence. “That’s fucking hilarious.” He looked up at Max and shook his head, almost in disbelief that someone knew him this well. “You’re safe this time.” He turned his attention back down to the new tattoo, which he remembered was gonna be there forever, and it made him laugh again. “Bro. I’m speechless.”

#CANON #taking brady to space #current verse #006

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braxarchives · 3 years

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Headcanons 001 ― CANON. (current verse)

A headcanon post detailing the mindset of both Brady and Max, as well as their relationship following the events of 004 - Old Town Road.

MAX’S PERSPECTIVE -

After Max and Brady’s initial visit to the Old Town Road, they continued to take a few more trips during the proceeding weeks. During one of the rare moments where they weren’t hooking up, fighting about breakfast items, or filming their ripoff Jackass videos, Max finally found the time to mention a conversation he had with an old friend of his. As it turned out, she reached out to him to ask about Brady’s relationship status, and in the process Max discovered they’d both been talking through an app. He wanted it to be clear to Brady that he hadn’t mentioned anything about the two of them hooking up in case it came up. Max wasn’t trying to get in the way of anything anyone Brady wanted to do, nor did he betray Brady’s secret. It was short and a little bit of an awkward conversation, but it ended in understanding over the situation.

They never talk about their encounters after the fact. However, their silent agreement that it’s only sex is becoming increasingly confusing to Max. He knows it’s just sex; just hooking up. In his head, he knows that. However, it’s difficult for Max to ignore the way Brady holds his face for a little too long or kisses him a little too gently. And he definitely can’t ignore the way he looks at him during those fleeting moments, or how more often than not they fall asleep in each others beds and don’t even question it. Especially when they wake up all close and personal. Max is starting to become all too comfortable with those small moments, and the part of him that he’s learned to suppress around Brady is starting to open back up. He still tells himself he’s too confused to talk about this with Brady, but the real reason is that he’s afraid to just yet and ruin a friendship. He normally isn’t the type to hold back on urges or feelings, not without good reason. And because it’s Brady, one of the constants in his life for the past three years, he hesitates.

The fact that Max is starting to have urges to kiss him or brush his hair back or hug him out of the blue (ie, when they’re not actively banging) is proving to be a problem, though. Or how the thoughts he’d tried so hard not to think in past were now ones he was starting to embrace. And he knows that eventually he’ll have to come to terms with that. It’s just a matter of time. For now, though, he’s just along for the ride and hoping no one else accidentally finds out before either of them is ready to talk about it.

BRADY’S PERSPECTIVE -

In the few weeks following possibly the weirdest but admittedly most in character sexual experience of his life, Brady was both surprised and not by the fact that there were a few repeats to follow that one — maybe not with a whole singalong, but still. He had known that once he and Max crossed the line there would be no going back, but he didn’t expect to want him all the fucking time. He knew it was just because it was easy with him. Brady had never been able to have a relationship like this with anybody, one where they could walk away from the sex, not talk about it, and it truly wasn’t weird. It felt good to be with Max, but even better to just be his best friend like always.

At some point they had a discussion about Max having talked to the girl he’d been messaging, and Brady divulged that he already knew, and wasn’t bothered. An expert at shrugging and passing most things off with a “whatever, man, it is what it is,” Brady assured Max that it was all good, and they continued on their merry way.

Brady has yet to mention to Max that he spoke to his sibling about the whole thing, and he doesn’t know if he’s going to at all because…well, what would he say? That his sibling essentially thinks this whole thing is going to blow up in their faces and that Brady is doing everything in his power not to think about that possibility? All that matters to Brady, all that’s ever mattered since he first started thinking certain things about Max is not fucking up their friendship, and he intends on sticking by that. Maybe that means not taking this as seriously as they should be and having a legitimate conversation, but―in true Brady fashion―whatever, man.

Brady can handle just sex and that’s all this is. No matter how many lingering touches and glances and words left unsaid there are when they sleep together. Truthfully, it’s easy for Brady to ignore the way it all feels super intimate sometimes. Because that’s all just a part of sleeping with someone you genuinely care about, and nothing more. When Brady wakes up and crawls out of Max’s bed, they don’t have to worry about anything being awkward… or feelings Brady doesn’t think he knows how to reciprocate yet. He feels like he’s hard-wired to fuck things up, and he’s determined not to let that happen. So he won’t let any of that bullshit that comes to him when he’s caught up in the heat of the moment get in the way when he’s out of it.

#CANON #headcanons 001 #current verse #005

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braxarchives · 3 years

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Old Town Road ― CANON. (current verse)

Brady and Max officially cross the line, and Brady takes his horse down to the old town road. NSFW.

It was pretty much like any other regular evening at the apartment. Instead of going out or finding something to do, him and Brady were at home just…working on their own things. Max’s go-to playlist was playing in the background as he checked Insta and Twitter, messaging fans and replying to tweets. But really, his mind was elsewhere. Peering at Brady from the corner of his eye, he wanted to say something to him. But what? Things had been…surprisingly not weird since the Four Loko incident. At least not until the whole Lucky thing. Now a weird sense of guilt settled in his gut. Especially since they may have had…. a few repeats of that night over the past week. And Max still wanted to have more. Way more. But now he wasn’t so sure if he was able to. He knew Brady was talking to another girl, and that they were just talking right now, but what made it complicated was that she used to be Max’s friend. Even if he’d been hooking up with Brady pretty often, now he was wondering if he was the one in the wrong somehow. But it was hard to keep feeling like that when Brady was right there, and Max was right here. Clearing his throat, he peered over to Brady, and Max couldn’t help but say something even if he honestly wasn’t even sure what to say. He leaned in, maybe a little too close, but freaking sue him. “Whatcha working on, bro?”

Brady had gotten used to this ages ago. It was fair from unusual for him to sit at the end of Max’s bed, or vice versa, with Draco chilling on the floor beside the bed as they both did their thing. Now, there was a slightly different element to it. Or…another level, really, because they’d cut through the tension and just done the damn thing. So now it was much more clear that they saw each other in that way, and Brady didn’t shy away from staring or making comments just to get a reaction out of Max (and a few times now, to get him back in his bed). It was so different from before when they would play it up for laughs on camera. Now they actually had to tone it down sometimes. Not that he cared. It could have been weird, but instead it was their normal shit. And he was thankful for that. What he wasn’t thankful for was the fact that now Max was getting brave. Since he didn’t have anything left to hide, it was clear he knew what he was doing to Brady’s head and no doubt did it on purpose. But once again… Brady could have a whole lot worse to complain about. He looked over his shoulder at where Max was now mere inches away from him, and Brady smirked. “I’m actually working on a lecture I’m gonna give about personal space,” he teased. Then he turned back to his laptop and shrugged. “What do you think I’m workin’ on? Famous youtuber Max Cameron’s next big video.” He turned back to Max and looked him up and down. “Y’ever heard of him? He’s kinda hot.”

His eyes traveled down Brady’s body before he could really stop himself. They’d done this a million times before, but now it was so different. Because Max knew if he reached out to touch him, that’d probably be okay with Brady. His heartrate accelerated just a bit at that thought, and he was almost close enough that he could lean in and kiss him. Shit. He was fucked. Max set his phone down beside him and raised his eyebrows. “Really? Are you gonna be the one to teach it to me? ‘Cause I could get into that.” A slow grin crossed his face, and before he could say anything dumber, his eyes dropped to Brady’s screen. He really should just let him edit this. He really should just…. not keep getting this close. Max wasn’t sure how long he’d wanted this with Brady, but he knew it’d been a long time. He also knew that he should probably just step aside for his old friend and move the hell on. But when he saw Brady checking him out? All rational thought went out the window, as was usual when it came to him and his best friend. “I have actually. He sounds like a douche. So’s his cameraman. But if you think he’s hot, maybe you should message him.” Max reached a hand out a hand despite the guilt weight on the back of his mind, and ghosted his fingertips down Brady’s arm, grinning as his eyes down the length of his body again. Shit. he was like an H&M model. Max’s stomach twisted just being this close to him. “I hear he’s lookin’ for someone to hang out with tonight.” The implication was clear as he flickered his eyes up to his roommates. “You too busy to take him up on that?”

“I mean, it seems like you could use a lesson.” As if Brady gave a fuck Max was invading his personal space. That was kinda the whole point. Brady watched him carefully, listening to him speak and nodding slowly. “Think so? I dunno. He might be too busy with someone super hot to message me back.” Brady sighed in mock disappointment, turning his focus back to his laptop. Only he definitely wasn’t getting back to work. As Max continued to speak behind him, Brady wordlessly saved the video he was working on and closed out of the editing software. Max asked his question just as Brady turned back around to meet his eyes. “Think I can set aside a little time,” Brady said, all traces of a smile gone as he carefully moved his laptop aside and pressed his lips to Max’s. He was once again surprised by how… not surprised he felt. It was like anybody else he would fool around with casually, except that it was Max and they’d go to sleep and wake up in the same apartment every night, and hang out all the time, and then also work together. So like, maybe it was all a horrible idea? But Brady couldn’t really imagine thinking that as he rested his hands on Max’s hips. It didn’t feel like anything could go wrong in this moment.

“Dunno. Maybe he’ll think you’re hotter.” He was a second away from brushing his lips across Brady’s neck when his friend was turning around to actually kiss him. Max wasn’t sure what he was doing, but he knew it felt good and he knew they both wanted it. And it was just hard to think about anything else when Brady was looking at him like that. He told himself this morning that they wouldn’t be doing this again, but his brain was not wanting to function right now. He just kissed him back for a moment, unable to help how good it felt each time it happened. It felt so normal, but so new at the same time, and Stevie kept wanting to experience that. He dropped his hands to the hem of Brady’s shirt and slid them under the fabric to rest at his sides, feeling the warmth of his skin under his fingertips. A pleasant shiver wracked his body as his lips moved against the others. His playlist was still playing from the speaker across the room, but he paid it no mind as he started to tug Brady’s shirt upwards in order to get it out of the way completely. He briefly broke apart from the kiss as his eyes blatantly roamed over his body, the tease apparent in his voice as he spoke. “We can make it quick. Wouldn’t want you to get in trouble with your boss. Unless you’re into that sort'a thing.“

“He better.” He raised a hand to thread his fingers through Max’s hair, settling there for a bit. He may have still had his doubts or had to stop to wonder every now and then, but it definitely went away when Max reciprocated every action or even took it a slight step further, like pulling Brady’s shirt over his head without a second thought. It was hot. God, Max was hot. That was the whole problem. None of this would have ever happened if Brady hadn’t ended up with a roommate so easy to look at. It clearly wasn’t part of the requirements when they first met and moved in and started working together, but now it was all catching up to him. Brady took a moment to pause, just to look over his shoulder and call out, “Draco, beat it. Go lay down.” The dog complied, trotting out of the open door. Brady could only imagine where this was headed and wanted to protect Draco’s innocence. He turned back and only sat watching Max look at him for about two seconds before he ducked his head and pressed a kiss to his neck. He wrapped his arms around Max’s waist and pulled him flush against his now bare chest. “What if I don’t wanna make it quick?” he said lowly, his lips moving against Max’s neck as he spoke. He trailed down to Max’s collarbone where he just barely grazed his teeth, then darted his tongue out to swipe over the same spot. “What if I wanna take my time… try something different?” Brady’s heart pounded in his chest as the words fell from his mouth before he could stop them, but it was exhilarating, and he exhaled heavily against Max’s skin. “That okay with you?”

The fingers winding through his hair and Brady pulling him in closer had Max’s heart racing in his chest. He was so fucking warm against him, and he even smelled good. Max had tried not to notice before, just like he’d tried not to notice how he smiled or laughed. Or how he looked in certain outfits. Now, though, he was allowed to notice. Some of those things, at least. He immediately melded into him, chest pressed against Brady’s. His hands traveled up his back and folded his fingers into Brady’s own hair, not bothering to hold anything back this time. A quiet moan was pulled from his lips as he felt Brady’s teeth; his tongue. His hands tightened in his friends hair just slightly, and he swallowed as the other’s words sunk in. His stomach flipped at the words, and a rush of excitement shot through him at the suggestion. The breath against his neck wasn’t helping any either. "Fuck. Yeah.” He hoped his voice didn’t crack as he nodded. The sounds of Post Malone’s Sunflower surrounding them still weren’t enough to distract from their words. Max’s thoughts were a little foggy at the implication. “Yeah that’s…. really okay with me actually.” His tongue darted out across his lips and gazed down at Brady. God, he really wanted this. “You sure you’re okay with it?”

Brady was aware that he was eventually reduced to a damn mess during these times with Max, but the effect he also had on Stevie was not at all lost on him. The way he reacted to Brady’s words and subtle movements… Brady ate that shit up. Specifically, now, the moan and the hands in his hair had Brady pressing his fingers into his skin with just a little more force. “Shut up,” was all Brady could think to say. He straightened up so he could move his hands to Max’s chest instead, pushing him down against his bed as Brady crawled on top of him. “Wouldn’t’ve said it if I wasn’t okay with it.” He knew Max was just being cautious and kind and whatever else he was raised to understand were important in communicating with other people, but Brady had a bit of a different way of doing almost everything, and he was thankful Max was used to that by now because he didn’t have time to stop and explain he wasn’t trying to be a douche. Not when he had Max below him, Brady straddling his waist with a hand cupping his face as he kissed him again. A clear understanding between them of where this was going to go ensured that Brady was exhilarated and really fucking turned on, really quickly. Already he could barely even think, grinding his hips down against Max’s and breaking the kiss to look down at him. “You sure you’re okay with it?” he asked, the words dripping with sarcasm, albeit a little breathless.

The fingers pressing into skin and Brady’s words didn’t deter him the slightest. Instead, everything about him right now just spurred him on. He let Brady push him down to the bed and pressed his hands to the small of his back in order to bring him closer; to bring his hips down on his. He knew exactly how Brady was; he knew how he responded and how he said things that sounded rough to other people’s ears. But fuck, he never minded it, really — and especially not right now. Something about Brady just being Brady while crawling on top of him was so unbelievably hot. Max didn’t miss a beat before he was leaning up into the kiss, and he rolled his hips up against Brady’s because of fucking course he was okay with this. He was more than okay. He was so okay that he didn’t even notice the song that had started next. The shock of being beneath Brady was enough to distract him from a few moments. “Jeez maybe I’ll just do this by myself.” He managed to throw back, but he sure as hell didn’t mean it. His eyes met Brady’s briefly so he could see that he was just kidding, before he leaned in and cupped his face in return, kissing him almost softly in comparison to the others. He wanted him to know that this was okay. But it was also then that the music playing slowly reached his ears, and a smile started to spread across his face until he was fully grinning against Brady’s lips. The grinning gave away into laughing, and he had to break apart. It was so confusing to be so turned on and so damn amused at the same time, but here he was. "You know what I’m gonna do, Brady?“ Max slid his hands down Brady’s back once more to glide over his ass, squeezing as he used the leverage to further bring him down against his hips to rock together. Max’s breath hitched, and he leaned his head back as he half laughed, half moaned. And as the chorus of the song picked up, Max couldn’t stop himself. Even if he’d tried to. "I’m gonna��.riiiiiide 'till I can’t no more.”

Brady felt like, given the circumstances, his brain was struggling to keep up with all of the different thoughts going through his head. First he wanted to make a comment in response to Max being a smartass (as usual), but then he sort of forgot all about it when Max kissed him kind of… warmly? Brady didn’t really know how to describe it. But it was almost like a way of communicating that wasn’t just the two of them spewing bullshit back and forth, and honestly? Brady would take it. He was distracted once again, though, when Max started smiling, and then laughing. Brady looked down at him and raised an eyebrow, wondering what the fuck he was on about. He was still a little lost, again feeling all clear thoughts slowly slip away as Max essentially groped him and moved against him, but he’d recognize Max’s next words anywhere. Brady didn’t realize his eyes had slipped shut until he had to open them again, to look down at the moron below him. And Brady really, truly, had no idea what to say, because of all things in the universe he might have thought would happen in his life, this situation was nowhere near any of them. Going back in time and telling an earlier Brady that he’d have to hear Max Cameron sing Old Town Road mid hookup might just earn present Brady a punch in the face.

“I…” Can’t stand you. Can’t believe you’re a real person. Can’t fathom why I’m so into you. He could have said a lot of things, so instead he said nothing, and he laughed because what the fuck else could he do? Now he was hyper aware of the fact the song was playing, and it was far from mood music so he had to agree it was hilarious. But he was also a little busy here, and didn’t have the patience to have a singalong. “Unreal,” Brady settled on saying after a while, but the fondness in his quiet tone was unmistakable. He went back to Max’s neck, eventually settling on one spot and sucking lightly. He didn’t want to go too crazy because he didn’t know if Max wanted to be walking around with that shit on his neck the next day, so he ended up nipping the skin there and sitting up. Brady moved back a bit to give himself space to reach between them for Max’s belt. “You lemme know if you wanna stop at any point to listen to some Billy Ray,” he teased, smirking at him as he undid the belt and pulled it off ridiculously slowly.

Max was still grinning, coming down from his moment of carelessness when he brought his head back down to look at Brady, happy to have made him laugh even at now of all times. Maybe even especially now, because they could still mess around even in the midst of hooking up. They were still them, and that thought kind of stuck with him until Brady spoke. The tone of his voice saying that one word slow brought him back to reality, and a warmness settled in his chest. The laughter now died off completely as Brady ducked back to his neck, and his fingertips ran up to Brady’s lower back to dig into the skin. Another sound threatened to escape his throat as Brady nipped his skin, and he was honestly deeply disappointed when he stopped. He didn’t say anything for a moment, and lifted his hips so it’d be easier to remove. “No.” He breathed with a small huff of a laugh, and reached out to tug Brady in closer by his waistband, slowly making work of removing his own belt. “Shut up. We do that after.” Max leaned in for another kiss before making his way down Brady’s neck, stopping at his pulse-point, brushing his lips slowly against the skin before letting his tongue graze the spot. He sucked gently, payback towards Brady, and hummed against the spot. It may have been the chorus of the song still playing in the background, and he had to fight to ruin this and smile about it some more. Instead, he fought it off by slowly slipping his hand under Brady’s waistband, only lifting his head once his fingertips brushed over him. “Or I could jus’ sing to you some more right now?” He teased.

Brady wanted to say something about Max stealing his line, since he was more often than not the one telling Max to shut up, rather than the other way around. But Brady probably deserved it more, to be fair, so he smiled and let it slide. Especially when Max’s lips found his neck and he was clearly giving Brady a taste of his own medicine. It caused Brady to tilt his head back a little and groan, so maybe Max got what he wanted out of it. Max was humming, though, and Brady put some space between them again to make sure Max could see his eyeroll. “I didn’t realize Old Town Road was what got you goin’. I’ll be sure to remember that.” As always, Brady wasn’t a fan of Max’s teasing. He had his reasons, like generally perceiving Max as a little shit and not wanting him to have that satisfaction, as well as Brady’s own desire to have control. So he wiggled away from Max’s touch and pulled Max’s shirt up over his head before starting to make his way slowly down toward the foot of his bed. He took a page from Max’s book and kissed every inch of skin he could reach on his way down, something Max just loved to do to Brady. His only paused so he could quickly work to get Max’s pants the fuck out of his way, tugging them down.

He took a moment to acknowledge the fact that this was no longer unfamiliar to him. There was no hesitation in the way he wrapped a hand around him, stroking him slowly, or the way he readjusted so his hand could make way for his mouth, first licking all the way up the underside, then taking as much as he could into his mouth. It wasn’t weird, or unnatural, or any of that, and maybe Brady should have cared that he was getting so used to the idea of sleeping with Max enough for it to just be A Thing, but then maybe he couldn’t possibly give less of a fuck at the moment. His hand stayed wrapped around what his lips couldn’t reach while his free hand pressed into Max’s hip. And if Max had some other stupid shit to say… Brady would love to hear him try now.

Any word that Max was going to say immediately died in his throat as Brady kissed his way down his chest. His skin felt hot wherever his lips would touch, and the fact that Brady was kissing all over him just like he did to him was not lost on him. And fuck, did he really like it. Max lifted his head a little to watch as Brady tugged his pants down, lifting his hips again to assist in removing them completely. He couldn’t pinpoint exactly why he found him so damn attractive, but he sure as hell did. Something about him rolling his eyes at him in that normal Brady way made his freaking stomach flip, too, which somehow made this whole experience so much more different than the others. Even if they’d done this exact same thing before. Without thinking, he let his fingers weave into Brady’s hair, his mouth falling open just a little as Brady took him into his mouth. And watching him do it was no less hot than the other times. A drawn out moan fell from his lips as his hips nearly rocked at the contact, but he forced his hips to stay still. “Fuck.” He swallowed, and pushed back Brady’s hair back. “You’re…” Amazing. Fuckin’ perfect. “So hot.”

The fact that they could go from telling each other to shut up about dumb shit to…well, actually shutting the fuck up in favor of more important things within moments reignited Brady’s hope that even with this added element, they would still have that relationship they’d had from the very beginning, long before they even thought about each other in this way. That train of thought took Brady away from the task at hand for just a fraction of a second, before he forced himself to stop thinking and focus on the sounds Max made and the feeling of his hands in his hair. Maybe they weren’t thinking this regular hooking up thing all the way through, but Brady was most of all glad he had finally figured out a way to get Max to stop talking once and for all, without fail. Well, almost stop talking. But at least the things he said while Brady had his dick in his mouth were super hot.

Brady couldn’t help but smirk at his friend’s clear restraint, and he lifted his head so he could look at Max. “C’mon,” he urged, licking his lips while his hand picked up the pace where his mouth left off. “You know I can take it.” If the last few times were any indication. They picked up on each other’s little things pretty quickly. Brady was aware that he still wasn’t an expert at this, but at least he knew what made Max tick, and Max didn’t care when the pace of his hand didn’t quite match the slide of his lips. Brady lowered his mouth over Max’s cock once more, swirling his tongue around the head as he did. And when he’d taken it as deep as he could manage, he started humming. The song had since ended, but since Max wanted to be a clown, Brady figured he may as well join the damn circus, so he could at least return the favor of humming the chorus. He looked up at Max as the corners of his lips curled up into a smirk, almost forcing him to need to pull away again.

Those were some of the hottest words he’s probably ever heard come out of Brady’s mouth. A low, drawn out groan escaped Max, and his eyes closed involuntarily. His hand tightened in his friends hair, and Max’s hips rolled up up at the encouragement. He didn’t want to be too careless with him, but but the look on Brady’s face and the way his mouth felt around him was too much. And then. And then he started…humming. It took Max a whole ass minute to understand what it was. “Oh my God.” He breathed in sharply as he felt the sensation all over his body. His hips stuttered a bit at that, and he honest to God was shaken. A fondness for his friend took over him at that moment, and he was also… really, really inexplicably turned on. A laugh tore from his lips; his smile suddenly so wide it almost hurt his face. He dug his free hand into the sheets below them and tugged Brady’s hair to guide him away from his cock. “I can’t…“ Believe I like you this much. "Believe you.” His words were slightly broken, and his voice felt rough to his own ears. He wanted his mouth back on him. But Max suddenly needed more than that. Max’s hand slid down to the back of Brady’s neck, fingers grazing his skin gently as he spoke. ”If you don’t giddy on up here and kiss me you can giddy out my way.”

Brady wondered how long it would take for Max to realize what he was doing, and he wasn’t disappointed when he finally did. Needless to say, he was glad when Max all but pulled him away, because it left Brady free to laugh right along with him. "You started it,” Brady pointed out. It was Max’s stupid music to begin with, after all, but Brady would have been just fine glossing over it if Max hadn’t gone and made it a thing. That usually made for the best memories between them though. When Brady looked back on their best moments, it was almost always Max’s idea or thought that sparked it. But then… that might just be Brady having such a fuckin’ unexplainable soft spot for the kid. He paused only to get rid of his pants and kick them to the floor, then followed Max’s (stupid) command and crawled his way back up so he could kiss him. He stopped only so he could speak, but his lips still barely brushed against Max’s as he did. “I’m gonna need you to stop talkin’ like a weird cowboy,” he mumbled, but the smirk on his face contradicted his attempt to act like he wasn’t into it. “Doesn’t really do it for me.” And that was totally a lie, because Max did it for him, regardless of whatever weird shit he pulled, and that was clear when Brady hadn’t at all shied away from the first Old Town Road singalong of the night.

Brady kissed him hard again, a hand coming up to Max’s cheek as he once again lost the ability to even wonder why he was here. A warmth in his chest he couldn’t quite place was spreading by the second, emphasized by the increasing beat of his heart in his chest, and Brady tried not to think about how suddenly intimate this was beginning to feel as he rolled his hips down against Max’s. He let out a low moan against Max’s lips and broke apart to look at him. “Fuck, Max, I― god, I just… want you.” And he might have meant it a little more than just literally, in this moment, but that didn’t matter outside of this moment, and it’s not like Brady would admit it even to himself anyway. “Tell me again you’re okay with it.” He wanted to know, needed to, because it was Max and it mattered.

Max watched as Brady kicked off his pants and began to crawl up his body, and the anticipation he felt was mixed with the overwhelming sense of affection he suddenly had for his best friend. The other times felt faster than this. Just something they did and didn’t talk about until the next time it happened. But this was taking it a huge step further, and Max had definitely thought about it a lot. But he never thought Brady would be this open. It honest to God took his breath away for a second, and he had to take a moment to reel himself in. Doing this with him was not a good idea for Max, but his ideas were always a little dangerous. And he didn’t have the strength to stop something that felt this good. Max’s eyes closed automatically as he came up for a kiss, and they remained shut even as he half-grinned at Brady’s words. “Sorry.” He whispered back, lips brushing over Brady’s as he spoke. He opened his eyes again to look at him, and his heart was pounding so hard in his chest at just how real this suddenly was. “What would y'like me to talk like?” But he lost all thought when Brady kissed him harder, and Max didn’t waste time before deepening the kiss. The brush of their tongues and the way Brady was rolling his hips against him were driving him insane, and he didn’t think twice about rolling his own hips up.

Brady’s words cut through, they surprised him and fueled his want for this even more. “Fuck. I want you.” For once, Max didn’t have anything more to say. He startled himself with how much he meant that, and maybe after this was gone he’d think about it way too much. But now? Now was not the time for thinking. Their cocks brushing up against each other made him crave more friction; made him want more of him. But when Brady broke away to look at him, Max made himself stop. And there was the twist of his stomach that he always noticed whenever Brady looked at him like that. He felt warm from the inside out and this was not freaking good for him, but damn. He didn’t care. Max reached up to cup either side of Brady’s face, looking at him in sincerity, all trace of previous teasing gone. “I’m okay with it. I’ve been okay with it. I want this, Brady.” His thumb brushed across a cheek bone, and Max leaned in to press a kiss to his jaw. Max rolled into him again and trailed kisses from his jaw, to his cheek, and back to his lips. He needed to convince him. “Trust me.”

Brady’s stomach felt like it flipped at Max’s words. Not just what he said, but how he said it. So… warmly, almost. Calm, and affectionate. The same way Brady himself was touching and speaking to him. It made him almost nervous, just for a moment, as he stopped the recognize the very real possibility of something underlying here, and the idea that he was about to open a door with Max that they wouldn’t be able to close from now on. They’d been walking on thin ice, letting this thing happen however it did when they’d both made it pretty clear it didn’t come out of absolutely nowhere, and now they were just about to jump headfirst. Brady didn’t think it was going to feel like this big of a deal, not until they got closer and closer and he started to realize what he was actually feeling. He couldn’t do that, though. He told himself a long time ago that wasn’t what was going to happen here, for his sake and for Max’s, and he meant it. So for now he was going to focus on it being him and his best friend and what they wanted. And what Brady wanted was to fuck Max. Which…still kind of sounded foreign to him, all things considered, but mostly because he wanted it so bad and hadn’t ever really considered it an actual possibility.

Max was all soft and kind, but something about the way he was kissing him reminded Brady he was really fucking attracted to him, and it was like a switch flipped. Brady slid the hand that was on his cheek through Max’s hair as he reciprocated the kiss. He took Max’s bottom lip between his teeth before tugging on his hair, pulling Max’s head back further against the pillows. He picked up where he left off on the spot on Max’s neck earlier, nipping at the skin there and then sucking, only this time he wasn’t quite as cautious about pulling away. He licked the red spot that was certain to leave a mark, and couldn’t help the overwhelming sense of satisfaction at that thought. “You’ve been okay with it?” he repeated, sitting up. “Have you thought about it before?” He knew the answer as well as Max did, but Brady wanted to hear it. He didn’t give him much time to answer before he was rolling off to the side so he could stretch for the drawer on Max’s bedside table. Obviously Brady knew where he kept condoms and lube. What kinda best bro would he be if he didn’t so kindly let Brady come steal them from him when he didn’t even know about it? Max was such a good friend. Brady dropped them on the bed near Max’s head and turned his attention back to Max’s jaw, dragging his lips along and planting kisses as he spoke. “I’ve thought about it.” One hand supported his weight while the other slid over Max’s chest, down his stomach to wrap around him once again. “Fucking you.” He paused, stilling as he tried to think of what to say next, but he came up empty handed and shook his head. “Or… some Old Town Road reference I can’t come up with right now.”

Before Max knew it, the tone had completely changed, but in no way was he complaining. The teeth tugging at his bottom lip had his whole body on fire, and it went right to his dick when Brady tugged his head back to nip at his neck. He arched into the ministrations, all coherent thought gone the second Brady nipped and licked at his skin. His cock brushed against Brady’s stomach, and he shivered as everything overwhelmed him in the best way. One hand dug into Brady’s back as the other slid down his chest and down towards his stomach. He swallowed another groan as Brady’s tongue soothed the mark, and the fact that he knew there was one just did something to him. “Fuck yeah.” He breathed, the quiet moan audible in his tone. “I’ve thought about it…” Understatement. And he was about to tell him as much when suddenly Brady was rolling off of him. Max leaned up on his elbows to follow Brady’s movements, and his brain was so focused on what was happening that he wasn’t all that quick to realize Brady knew exactly where he was going. But when he went directly to his stash of supplies, Max briefly narrowed his eyes at his back briefly. He knew he wasn’t having sex that much. So that’s where all of his condoms were going. He’d say something later, maybe, but right now? It was kinda hot that he knew just where to go. Max reached out to wind his arms around his middle as he came back over to him, leaning his head back so Brady could kiss over his jaw. And then he had to go and speak again and something in Max broke. Brady was here, and he wanted this. So Max was gonna make damn sure to make this good for him too.

“An’ how much do you think about it?” He let one hand trail down to Brady’s dick, stroking him and trying to match the same rhythm as him; leaning his head in to press a kiss to Brady’s shoulder. “‘Cause I can’t look at you now without thinking about it.” He admitted, tone hushed. Maybe he shouldn’t say that, but ever since the Four Loko incident, the floodgates opened and have not yet been closed. He nipped at the skin of Brady’s shoulder before soothing it with his tongue. “You fucking me.” Among a lot of other things. He lifted his gaze to look at Brady as he continued to stroke him. Max brushed another kiss over his lips, and used his free arm to reach up and grab the lube and condoms above his head. “Wanna see what it’s like for real, if you’re really up for that.” He knew that Brady obviously was. But he wanted to make sure he was comfortable with it one last time. He wasn’t sure how much experience Brady had with guys, and as much as he wanted this and wanted to rush in head first, he was trying to keep his best friend in mind.

But the moment he got the go ahead, Max reluctantly let go of Brady so he could busy himself with bringing the package to his mouth, tearing the tip of it open with his teeth. Max glanced down between them, and he gave Brady’s cock a few strokes before gripping the base and rolling the condom down over him. Holy shit. Was he really doing this with Brady right now? Yeah. Yeah he really was. His tongue darted over his bottom lip before he was leaning into him again, brushing lips over his neck and jaw. His hands dropped to his sides to grab the bottle of lube, uncapping it and spreading the gel on his fingertips. He used one hand to wrap around Brady once more, and slid the other hand down between them, past his own dick. A sharp gasp slipped passed his lips as he got them both ready, and he dipped back in for another urgent kiss.

“‘Course I’m up for it,” Brady whispered, because he could barely manage much more than that at the moment. He was too preoccupied watching Max, studying his every movement. He was sure he looked anything but composed as his jaw hung open, mesmerized by the sight of Max tearing open the condom and then rolling it onto him. Brady had to take a second just to steady himself as he realized, once again, that this was really happening. He was really about to fuck Max, his friend and roommate, the dude whose videos he worked on, for real. And there was certainly no turning back now. Not that Brady would even dream of it, especially considering how fucking hot the whole thing was. Brady brought a hand down to wrap around Max’s dick, matching the rhythm of the hand stroking him, and leaned down to kiss him again.

He waited for Max to give him the cue that he was ready, and Brady’s heart pounded in his chest again at the mere thought of this being a real thing. He wanted it, had for longer than he’d like to admit and the fact that the opportunity was now right here, right at his fingertips was almost dizzying. Brady adjusted a bit, settling between Max’s legs. He had an arm braced against the mattress beside Max’s head to hold himself up, keeping enough space between their bodies that he could still manage to bring a hand down between them to wrap around the base of his cock. He raised his gaze to meet Max’s, hesitating for a moment while he once again got his bearings. Brady searched his face for any signs that he didn’t want this, that he had changed his mind, but he found nothing of the sort. Brady nodded at him, then looked between them as he pressed into him slowly. His head tipped back as the feeling enveloped him. His mind had been racing but all of that went immediately out the window and he couldn’t focus on anything other than how fucking good this was. “Fuck, Max,” Brady said through clenched teeth. He leaned his head back down and buried his face in Max’s neck, trying to keep himself from moving immediately to give Max time to adjust.

All of the other times they’d hooked up, it seemed to happen so quickly. Max barely gave himself time to think before they were gravitating towards each other. This time, though, it seemed to be happening so much slower. But it wasn’t a bad thing; something about this made him want it so much more. It also made him realize that this wasn’t just some guy. This was Brady. And damn if that thought didn’t make this all the more exciting. His best friend was one of the most attractive people he’d ever seen, not that he’d ever told him that. But recognizing that and actually being allowed to look or touch were two different things. So as Brady looked at him and began to push into him, Max suddenly felt like he couldn’t breathe. His arms wound around Brady’s back; his legs parting and bending to press against his friends sides. It was so surreal to be wrapped around him like this, and the sharp sting that wracked his body was startling. But fuck, it was still so good. “Brady.” His voice sounded hoarse even to his own ears. He reached a hand up to drag through his friends hair, his own head dropping down to press a smattering of kisses over the top of his head and shoulder blade - any place he could reach. As he got used to him, Max rocked his hips just slightly, and he breathed in sharply. “Fuck. Fuck me.” He murmured, and it was both an exclamation and a request. And despite himself, despite how fucking bad he wanted this, Max couldn’t help himself. “Thought you were gonna take me to the old town road.”

If Brady thought Max was hot before, hearing him say his name and feeling him hold on a little tighter to him while Brady was literally inside of him was probably the hottest thing he’d experienced in a long time. He was beyond sensory overload, with Max’s fingers threading through his hair and his lips touching every place he could. His forehead still pressed against Max’s collarbone, Brady let out a few shallow breaths, recognizing once again this was the culmination of something they’d both thought about but maybe weren’t sure if they’d ever act on, and now here they were. It was leaving Brady kind of breathless. All it took was for Max to move just that little bit and talk to him for Brady to snap out of it. He lifted his head so he could look at Max, and with a snap of his hips, Brady gave Max what he had asked for — albeit stupidly, but that was Max for you. Brady ignored the comment at first in favor of finding a rhythm and planting his other hand on the mattress so he could hold himself up. Once he did that, he said, “I said only if you stop talking like that.” In truth, Brady didn’t mind it, because above all else it just reminded him that this was in fact Max he was with, and that thought alone only spurred him on. But who would he be if he didn’t give Max a hard time, even now?

With every thrust Brady felt himself losing more control, and he was just desperate; for what, he wasn’t exactly sure. For more, or just to be closer, maybe? Whatever the case, he bent down over Max, now on his elbows so he could kiss him, both of Brady’s hands immediately grasping at blond hair. “Jesus Christ, Max,” he managed to get out against his lips, “you’re so…” He could have said a million things, but shook his head to clear away the sudden, possibly ill-placed affection he felt so he could just focus on the physical. “So fucking good.” He raised his head a bit to hold Max’s gaze. Brady supported his weight on one arm so he could bring the other down to the side of Max’s face. “This good enough for you, cowboy?” he teased, unable to hold back his smug grin.

Everything about Brady right now was a turn-on for Max. The way his hips snapped forward had Stevie’s head knocking backwards onto the mattress below. His fingertips dug into Brady’s back, his other hand still grasping at his hair. And despite opening his big ass mouth before, now he had nothing to say. The drawn-out moan that he couldn’t hold back likely said it all, anyway. The few times he’d let himself actually think about this moment lately were nothing compared to this. Max’s hips rocked, trying to match the rhythm; trying so hard to just get closer and get more of him. His legs pressed firmer around him, and Max lost himself for a moment in how it all felt. His best friend was inside him, and right now it felt like the most normal thing in the world. And all he was thinking was how he wished they’d done this sooner; and how he wouldn’t mind doing this again. And again. And maybe a fourth time if Brady was into it. The hands in Max’s hair brought him back to reality, and he looked back up at Brady, stretching his neck up to meet the kiss, humming into it before they broke apart. “Wow. Like it when you call me cowboy. Haven’t even gotten a chance to ride yet.” He breathed as a lopsided grin appeared on his face, but he disguised it by mouthing his way across Brady’s jawline and ending up at his neck, nipping and sucking at the skin. He stopped only to look back at him, and the arm that was in Brady’s hair dropped between their bodies to wrap a hand around his own cock. “So good.” He reiterated with a groan, spurred on by Brady’s words, and began to stroke himself.

He leaned in again, and was close enough to kiss him again, but he stopped, nose ghosting over Brady’s cheek. And he could probably feel his breath on his face, but Max didn’t care. “You feel…. Fuck, Brady.” He swallowed. “I wanna feel more.” He wasn’t sure if he was making sense, but maybe he didn’t need to. Max dropped his hand away from his cock and pushed against Brady’s chest to guide him backwards, moving with him so he didn’t waste any time. “Did say I was gonna ride 'till I can’t no more.“ And that was the absolute last reference he’d be making this evening. He couldn’t even laugh about it anymore; he was too deep in. "Don’t have any complaints do you?”

Brady knew Max was making a joke, but something about the mere thought of it sent a shiver down his spine. He had never quite expected Max of all people to be so fucking good at driving him crazy, but here they were, Brady letting out a moan before he could stop it. Not that he needed to hold back, or even wanted to. But he was usually better at having something to say in response. Now he was just too far gone. When he did finally manage to speak again, it was, “God. The fuck are you waiting for then?” His words sounded damn near desperate, the sheer need for more evident in his tone. Brady couldn’t get enough of the things Max said, coupled with the way his voice sounded, low and gruff and altogether different even from when they had been together before. He quickened his pace, dropping the hand on Max’s face so he could give himself more leverage to move, to give Max more just like he’d said, but then he was pushing Brady away. Brady didn’t argue, didn’t exactly do anything except follow Max’s lead, pushing himself up and watching Max come up with him.

All at once it registered what Max was getting at, and while Brady wanted to roll his eyes or comment on yet another dumb reference, his brain was too shrouded by a thick cloud of holy fuck for him to do much of anything except lie back on the bed and drag Max on top of him. “You know I don’t,” he managed to get out in response, one hand gripping Max’s thigh and the other reaching down to hold his own cock tightly in his hand. He wasn’t interesting in wasting time and jerked his hips up into him again. Then his hand mirrored the other, fingers digging into Max’s thighs before moving up to his hips to help him match Brady’s pace. They immediately found a rhythm together and Brady’s head dropped back against the pillow as he let out another moan. He forced himself to pick it back up so he could watch.

“You look so fucking hot like this,” Brady noted, sliding one hand up over Max’s stomach and chest, just to touch him in every way possible. He made it a point to clearly drag his gaze over every inch of him. Brady licked his lips and rocked his hips up relentlessly, the hand on Max’s chest coming back to just below his waist. “Fuck, Max, I… shit.” He was losing the ability to form coherent thoughts, knowing he wasn’t even going to last long like this. He didn’t care, though. Not a single part of Brady cared about dragging this on any longer, not when his best friend was the one making him feel this good. Brady could only think now that he wasn’t sure anything less than this would even be enough for him ever again. All he wanted was more. Of Max. “You don’t even know how…how fucking perfect—“ He paused, stopping before you are slipped out, because even while his brain was consumed by Max, he knew better than to let that get away from him. But fuck if Brady didn’t mean it. “You feel,” he finally finished, averting his eyes from Max’s face to focus on the movements between them instead.

Max wasn’t sure how he was still holding onto coherent thought. Seeing Brady like this caused something in him to wake up. And while he’d been joking, he suddenly couldn’t do that anymore. Because his best friend was moaning and enjoying himself because of him, and suddenly the reality of it came crashing down on Max. Something in his chest stirred again, not for the first time tonight, and instead of pushing it aside he embraced it for once. He moved on top of Brady without hesitation, craving the closeness and feeling the loss of him already. But then Brady was gripping his thighs and pushing back into him, and Max moaned through the sting. But fuck if he didn’t like it, because how good it felt quickly outweighed everything else. Max rocked his hips, taking in more of him and throwing his head back as they found their pace. Max’s hands fell to rest on Brady’s stomach to balance himself as they moved together. He brought his head back down to look at him as Brady spoke, and the way he was looking at him made him want him all that much more. The words sent a shiver down his body, and he could feel himself getting more desperate. Max’s hand reached down to wrap around his cock to stroke in time with their movements, and he groaned whenever Brady’s thrusts would hit him just right.

“You’re so good. So fucking—” Pretty. But even now he knew not to say that. "Hot.” His mouth felt dry as he looked at the expressions passing on Brady’s face. “Brady.“ He leaned in again and nipped at his chin, too distracted to fully kiss him, hips slamming down a little rougher as he felt himself get closer and closer. His hand squeezed around his cock tighter, and his movements became jerkier. And this whole night was going by all too quickly, but God he wasn’t complaining. "I’m gonna come.” He breathed in sharply as he finally leaned in for a kiss, sloppier than he intended it to be, but it was freaking perfect anyway. “Want you to come with me.” He was struggling to think now, but he was beyond thinking at this point. “Please.”

Brady could tell that this was different. While he wasn’t 100% sure on how, exactly, the way Max looked at and spoke to him was distinct from the other times Brady had just been blowing him. Almost like those times had just been for the hell of it and maybe weren’t all that serious, but this sort of meant there was no turning back for them. Brady wasn’t sure he’d be able to look at Max the same way ever again after this. And maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing. Nothing associated with this could be a bad thing, he decided, with Max clearly beginning to fall apart under Brady’s touch, bringing Brady right along with him. “Yeah?” Brady wanted to shove Max’s hand away and touch him himself, but he was focused on pressing his hands so hard into Max’s hips it was like he was trying to leave marks, so he left that to him. Brady settled instead on attempting to concentrate on the kiss. He was so close, right there on the edge with Max, just waiting for the little push he needed to fall. It came with Max’s words, his straight up pleading, and Brady couldn’t hold back anymore.

He finally released Max’s hips so one arm could wind around his waist and the other flew up to his hair to clutch it tightly, pulling his head closer toward him. “Oh fuck. Come on, Max. Come with me,” he breathed directly against Max’s ear. “Now.” He only tugged him back a bit so that Brady could look at him, watch Max’s face while he finally came. His hips stilled and he let his head fall back with a moan he was pretty sure he’d never heard come from him before, then lifted it back up so he could see Max again. Once he returned to planet earth, Brady felt his entire body relax, all the tension in his muscles disappearing. He slowly dropped the hand in Max’s hair down to his thigh, but didn’t immediately move the one around his torso. He looked up at Max with a smirk. “Goddamn, Cameron.”

Everything was too much for Max at that moment; Brady’s hands digging into his hips, the sound of his voice as he talked to him, the way his hand grabbed at his hair. It was all just a little too good. And having Brady drag his head closer just so he could say those words to him was just so unexpected and unbelievably hot that it began to push Max over the edge. His hips stuttered, and he struggled to keep pace as he stroked himself quickly. But the now accompanied by his head being pulled back is what really got to him. Max’s hips immediately halted as he helped tilt his head back, jaw dropping open as he spilled over his fingers; half on Brady’s chest. A sound that could only be categorized as a low whine escaped his throat as he finally, finally came down. “Fuck. Fuck. Yeah.” It was all he could say. For once, Brady had rendered him completely speechless. Max’s eyes fell shut as his friend made that sound, and all he could think was that it was honestly the hottest thing he’d ever heard in his life.

He struggled to open his eyes again, wanting so badly to see more of Brady when he was like this. There was something so different about him right now, and that image was completely burned into his mind now. Way to go, Brady. Max slumped forward as Brady let go of his hair, head hanging down as he struggled to regain his breath and composure. His whole body felt lax now; and it was a wonder he could even still think. “Damn is right.” He agreed slowly, and he leaned forward, close enough to kiss him but not closing the gap just yet. “You’ve been holdin’ out on me, St. Clair.” His eyes flickered to his, and a playful smirk found his face. His free hand found the side of Brady’s cheek, and he cupped it before deciding to go in and brush his lips over his. They’d already come this far. If Max wanted to kiss him then he was gonna do it. It was softer than he meant for it to be; not rough or urgent like the others, and Max knew that he had to pull away.

Max slowly broke apart moved off of him, masking his groan when he felt Brady slip out of him. Without a word, he flopped next to him on the bed, staring at his ceiling for a moment before a grin stretched over his face. He lazily turned his head to look at him again, only speaking again when his brain felt less like a scrambled mess. “What else are you hidin’ from me?“ 'Cause he’d like to see it.

Max’s lips were soft and slow against his, and Brady thought that might send his mind racing a mile a minute again. He had officially caught his breath and was having his moment of post-nut clarity, no longer clouded by thoughts of just desperately wanting to fuck him, meaning Brady could really sit and think about what they had just done and all the things he had thought throughout it. But to his surprise, he didn’t immediately panic and have to fight the urge to sprint out of the room. He had confidence in his friendship with Max. If any bullshit did arise after this, they’d get over it quickly. Or, Brady thought as he kissed him back, they could just do this again and not let any bullshit fuck it up. At least, Brady wouldn’t. And he liked that option better.

Once Max was next to him, Brady propped himself up to clean up. “I dunno,” he said lightly, grabbing some tissues from Max’s nightstand to take care of the mess now on his chest and wrap up the condom after he had tied it off at the end. “You might just have to find out for yourself.” He certainly wasn’t opposed to that idea, especially not after this. Brady tossed the wad of tissues into the trash can and then finally lay back on the bed, both arms coming up behind his head. Just like the other times, he didn’t see much of a point in going back to his own room now. “Y’know, now I’m gonna have like double the work to do on your dumb video tomorrow.” As if he cared. As if it wasn’t worth it. Brady smirked to make it clear he knew that just as well as Max did. He reached across Max’s body to pick up his phone and turn off his music. No need for it now, he figured, dropping the phone back where it was and returning to his previous position. “Try not to wake me too early for round two,” Brady teased, letting his eyes slip shut.

He wondered if it should matter that he felt nothing other than pure bliss at the moment, no worries or anxiety. He of course decided to blame it all on the afterglow. Max had sorta rocked his world, after all, but he’d have to fight Brady to get him to tell him that.

#CANON #old town road #current verse #004

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braxarchives · 3 years

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An Honest Conversation ― CANON. (current verse)

Brady reaches out to Max to clear the air about what happened between them, and in the process a secret is shared.

BRADY: hey BRADY: got a minute?

MAX: hey dude MAX: sure MAX: everything okay?

BRADY: yeah i just wanted to say something BRADY: ik we kinda talked things through a couple days ago or whatever but i kept beating around the bush with this and i don’t wanna do that anymore BRADY: probs not a big surprise by now that i’m bi but you should know that i’ve known that for like longer than i’ve known you. and listen dude, i don’t know why the fuck i haven’t just said it before either. just didn’t really feel important i guess? BRADY: feels important now cuz i want you to know what happened the other night wasn’t just some sorta curiosity or experiment or whatever. i have like a ton of respect for you and shit. BRADY: anyway. yeah. MAX: oh. wow. okay. give me a sec here MAX: first of all, thank you for telling me that MAX: i'm not gonna be that asshole who said they always suspected 'cause honestly... i had no idea and wasn't going to assume. doing what i did was stupid as hell tbh. MAX: honestly i've been wanting to talk to you too MAX: just want to say that if i pushed you into something before you were ready to let me know, i'm sorry. can't help but feel like i nudged a little, you know? MAX: i respect you and shit too, dude MAX: does anyone else know about that? the bi thing?

BRADY: you do a lot of stupid shit but there's nothing stupid about being honest. BRADY: think about who you're talking to rn and then tell me if you seriously think i wouldn't have walked right the fuck out of there if i felt like you were pushing me. BRADY: i mean. i don't really tell people if that's what you're asking. couple dudes i've been with might be a lil clued in. MAX: i mean, i guess. just wish i was brave enough to be honest without getting drunk off four loko. four fucking loko Brady MAX: well yeah that's definitely true. you're not exactly shy MAX: you know i'm not going to say anything, right? or do anything to compromise that. now i'm just remembering all the dumb jokes i made on my channel and cringing at myself tbh MAX: you're still Brady, dude, that ain't gonna change MAX: gotta say i don't exactly mind the bi side of you, though BRADY: does it matter? BRADY: obviously. that's why i wanted to tell you. and it's not like i didn't do the same shit. people are gonna think what they want. BRADY: and i also wanna make it clear i'm not like ashamed. i'm not trying to hide it. idfk why i never talk about it man. it just doesn't feel like something i should have to say if that makes sense. BRADY: the bi side of me is...every side. you know i never explicitly told you i'm straight? you just thought cuz i never said otherwise. which i guess makes sense but like whatever dude. BRADY: but for the record i obv know what you meant by that and trust me. i know. MAX: I mean not NOW MAX: You shouldn't really have to talk about it if it's not what you want. Like I know I'm loud about my shit. But not everyone is like that. No one has to know every single thing about you if that's not your style MAX: I wasn't trying to make any judgments. I didn't know what you were and it felt rude to ask. but I had like... vibes I guess? Which sounds so douchey to say wtf MAX: Just. You're my best friend, dude. You can tell me things. Literally nothing you could say is gonna make me judge you MAX: I know being bi's just a part of you. In case you didn't, I liked what we did the other night. A lot. MAX: And if you ever wanted to do it again... I wouldn't exactly say no. But if you didn't, that's cool too. BRADY: it’s not. that’s why i don’t do what you do. but to each his own and whatever the fuck. BRADY: i get it. BRADY: yeah i know. that’s why i’m telling you over fucking text because it was bugging the shit out of me. couldn’t wait. BRADY: again. i know. you let me know quite a few times how much you liked it. BRADY: you propositioning me rn cameron? MAX: I'm sorry it's been bugging you. Wanted to say something to you sooner, but didn't want to push you. Really though. I'm glad you told me. MAX: Hmmm where's your proof?? The camera didn't record that part buddy MAX: Love it when you pull out the big words on me MAX: What if I am? BRADY: doesn’t matter now. everyone left satisfied last i checked. BRADY: didn’t it though? it records audio too you know. BRADY: idk. maybe i’m into it. MAX: Oh so is that what you've been listening to while you're editing? MAX: Maybe we should do something about that then. MAX: Not feeling real satisfied rn Brady BRADY: don’t really have a choice. already knew you never shut up but you outdid yourself. BRADY: well someone got over the hesitation thing real quick. BRADY: srry, super busy trying to satisfy you with a fully edited video to post atm. no breaks ever. MAX: Fine, whatever, see if you'll ever hear anything outta me again. MAX: Omfg MAX: No breaks wow your boss sounds like a real ahole MAX: I'll be home in an hour. Up to you if you wanna break or not. BRADY: i’m just messing with you max BRADY: it was hot, if that makes a difference. BRADY: he has his moments. BRADY: i’ll have to see what my boss wants from me first. MAX: Well thanks. MAX: u have to cut him a break, its hard dealing with difficult employees :/ MAX: Okay Anastasia Steele hold tight MAX: Maybe he wants to give you your performance review

#CANON #an honest conversation #current verse #003

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braxarchives · 3 years

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The Four Loko Incident ― CANON. (current verse)

Max hasn’t been entirely honest with Brady about his feelings towards him. In order to gain the courage to tell him, he concocts a plan. NSFW.

It took Max all of a day after texting his twin about his self-pitying unrequited bullshit to put together a game plan in his head. When he woke up yesterday morning, he didn’t really plan on being in his feelings. But then Brady had to walk by him in one of Max’s t-shirts and smiled at him with his stupid bed-head and Max’s brain malfunctioned. Honestly, though. Maybe it was a long time coming. When Emmie had suggested he just talk to him… the thought was scary. But the alternative was scarier: letting this eat at him for even longer and ruining whatever chill he had left. And once Max had an idea in his head, he had to do it. Sleeping on things for too long wasn’t his strong suit. If he gave himself time to think things through, he’d chicken out. And that just wasn’t him. So naturally he’d thought about it. What was the least painful way to get everything out in the open and not feel the embarrassment of rejection later? And then it came to him: alcohol. “Hey, dude.” He said casually as he closed the door behind him to their apartment, cradling a bagged bottle in his hands. “You have plans tonight? ‘Cause I thought maybe we could hang out. I brought presents. Like — six different kinds of Four Loko.” He grinned and lifted the bag up some as though he could see through it. “Was thinking we could come up with our own drinking game or something.”

Brady looked up from the TV, where he was currently sprawled out on the couch watching Parks & Rec for probably the 10th time, when he heard Max come in. “Hey,” he replied, just beginning to curiously eye the bag in Max’s hands when he explained it. Brady grinned, pushing himself to sit up. “Four Loko,” he repeated. “You’re ridiculous.” But he couldn’t even act like he wasn’t excited. The idea of a drinking game definitely piqued his interest. “Yeah. Yeah, we can figure somethin’ out.” Brady paused the episode he was currently on so he could adequately focus on the conversation. “You wanna make it a video? We’ll just…try to cut it off before you get too hammered. Don’t want your fans seeing you get too sloppy,” he teased.

Max laughed and walked over to him to set the bag down near the couch, his gaze momentarily drifting to the TV before Brady paused it. Honestly, it was good he did pause. They’d end up getting distracted before doing anything at all. “If that’s not good enough we’ve got some Jack somewhere around here. But I don’t wanna kill us, we might lose at our own game.” He matched Brady’s tone right back and moved to sit next to him, shuffling the bag on the ground as he did so. “Oh yeah, wouldn’t want to be too on brand. Good thing I have you to protect our squeaky clean image, huh?” For once, he hadn’t even thought of doing a video. He guessed he shouldn’t stop now. Besides, as Brady said, they could cut it off when he got too messy. Nodding with a small hum, he rummaged through the bag to pull out a couple different flavors and set the cans in front of them. “Yeah! You’re a genius, man. ‘Cause I was thinking we could watch some of our old stuff. But make it fun, you know? That way you can take a shot every time I do something dumb, like I know you want to.” He teased. “And I can whenever you roll your eyes and quit. Perfect, right?” Except for the fact that it wouldn’t be actual shots, but whatever. They made their own rules. “How much time do you need to get ready?”

“Yeah. Save that for another time.” Whatever Max had on him now was likely more than enough. “Which is why this probably won’t be edited for a good two days, to make sure I got a totally clear head to start with.” Brady could only imagine going into it and missing important bits and pieces, ending up with something super messy up on Max’s channel for the world to see. And Brady certainly wasn’t down with that. “Hm, we might have to narrow that down a lil’ bit. Taking a drink every time you do something dumb might kill me in a little under an hour,” he teased as he turned the TV off. “Go get your laptop. Gimme like five minutes.” He headed into his room so he could change his shirt. He usually didn’t exactly care what he looked like in Max’s videos, since he was partial to being entirely authentic or whatever, but he was in an old sleep shirt that really didn’t do much for him. He changed into the first clean henley shirt he found, grabbed his camera and tripod, and returned to the living room to set up. “Let’s say you take a drink every time I make a comment from behind the camera, ‘cause there’s plenty of that. Down the rest of your drink every time I threaten to quit.” Brady set the camera on the tripod and started to set up the frame. “And I take a shot every time you lose your train of thought. Down it whenever you manage to injure yourself.”

“You’re so funny, save it for the video.” Max grinned to himself and stood, waving his roommate away as he did so. “Alright, go make yourself presentable, wouldn’t want to disappoint the Brady fangirls.” He teased, before wandering off to go grab his laptop from his room. He walked by Ratthew’s cage, wiggling his fingers in his direction before grabbing the laptop and power cord from his bed. By the time he came back to the living-room, powered up and pulled up YouTube, Brady was already joining him. He briefly glanced at him, taking note of the outfit change and willing himself not to be that guy who looked a little too long. Yikes, as though this wasn’t already going to be embarrassing enough. Turning back to the screen, he found himself huffing a small laugh as he opened a few different fan-made compilations, pausing each one before they had a chance to play. “Why don’t I just down my drink now and get it over with?” He joked lightly, but wasn’t really joking, as Brady set up the camera. “Sounds good, but we’re gonna end up going through all these cans in like five minutes. I pulled up our greatest hits.” He took two cans of Four Loko, one for him and one for Brady, and popped the top. “’Kay, dude, get your ass over here so we can do our intro. We’ll save the thumbnail for after.”

Brady obviously knew Max was joking about downing his drink right away, but he still replied, “’Cause that’d ruin all the fun.” He finished setting up the camera and pressed record. “Alright, then guess we’re gonna have to break out the jack eventually,” he said simply, going over to join Max where he sat. “I dunno if we’ll manage to pull ourselves together afterward.” He had to take the realistic approach, because he had a feeling a drunken thumbnail would be a hot mess and they’d end up redoing one when they were sober anyway. “But whatever, your channel.” Brady cleared his throat and put on his best ‘on camera’ look, which was far from perfected because he still wasn’t quite used to it. “Sup guys. Uh, welcome back to my channel. My name’s Max,” he placed a hand over his chest, then gestured toward Max, “and this is my super hot cameraman Brady who’s so kindly doing a video with me.” Brady grinned at him briefly before turning away, and then wondered for a moment if the joke about himself being hot would properly land. Not that Brady hadn’t publicly stated before that he and his best bro were equally attractive, but recently it felt just a little bit different to say out loud. And he also knew from experience that Max’s fans liked to take the tiniest little thing and turn it into something much bigger. But Brady wanted all of that to be on his own terms, not up to some randos on the internet. “What’re we doin’ today, real Max?” he asked as he opened the can Max had handed him.

Max sighed, more than a little dramatically, and shrugged his shoulders. “I mean I guess. And hey maybe not, but if we can get a steady pic it’ll be good enough.” The important thing was that Brady would be in it. He was a fan favorite, even if Brady didn’t seem to like the attention like Max did. He never fully understood why. But sometimes he just wished Brady would let people see who he was more. As Brady joined him, he couldn’t help but laugh. “Wow. Spot on impression. I think I’d introduce you as my super hot but rude as hell camera-man Brady, but you’re honestly close enough.” He leaned back into the couch and gave the camera a little wave. “Hey everybody it’s fake Brady slash real Max. Bringing you more quality content ‘cause we’ve got nothing better to do on a Friday night. So here we’ve got some Four Loko, and on my laptop here I’ve got several fan submitted compilations. And spoiler alert, we might actually end up dying today. ‘Cause we’re going to be playing a drinking game.” He looked away from the camera and grinned over at Brady. “Rules are simple. He takes one sip whenever I lose my train of thought.” He shoots him an annoyed look, although it’s mostly playful. “Which is obviously not that often. And then he’s gonna down it whenever I injure myself. Which might be a little often.” He admitted with a small shrug. “And I’ma sip whenever he comments behind camera. Then full on downing my drink when he threatens to quit on me. Oh, and it totally counts now, too, but if you abuse it I’m disqualifying you. So don’t quit three times in a row. Or I’m gonna get up and pretend to fall like fifteen times.” He tapped him on the arm, careful not to make him slosh, and reached out to grab his own can and pull the first tab on his laptop up. “And on that note. I’m gonna start. “Max & Brady’s worst moments - part 1.” He arched an eyebrow at Brady before he started it. “How many parts do you think there are?”

“Quality content is a loose term.” They both had to admit this was going to get real stupid, real fast. But that was them for you. Brady simply nodded along with Max’s explanation, because there was really nothing to add and maybe he was still a little camera shy. But whatever. All he really had to do was sit there and look pretty and Brady was good at that. “Alright, alright. I won’t quit unless it’s warranted,” he promised. Brady watched curiously as the video started and shrugged. “I dunno, man. Probably too many.” It started with Max’s older videos, clips stitched together with far too much yelling and general idiocy. And, predictably, Brady’s comments in response. He smirked as he looked over at Max after a particularly prominent ‘this might be your dumbest idea yet’ from behind the camera. “Drink up, bro.”

He couldn’t help the genuine smile from crossing his face at their old videos. The camera was way too shaky and their content was just a bunch of yelling and doing the first thing they could think of. But they were kind of his favorites. That was one of the most fun times of his life. “Aw, look at us. We were like 12.” It was more like three years ago, but close enough. At the comment that Max had honestly been expecting, he shook his head and grinned. “Ah – wait for it, though.” He held his hand up in the air, and shortly after he spoke, the on-screen Max tumbled to the ground and completely ate it. He lifted his own can up, and pointed at Brady with his other hand. “You better drink for that bruise I had on my face for like a month. It hurt to smile.” And with that, he lifted his drink to take a small sip. “Chug it, bro, I’m freaking waiting.”

It went like that, as predicted, and four cans between the two of them were gone way too quickly. And so was Brady. “The fuck even is this shit bro?” He studied the can, as it suddenly occurred to him he’d never actually had this shit before and didn’t realize it would hit him this hard. “That was too freakin’ fast to go through two of these at once. That’s like… that’s eight whole Lokos, dude.” Brady couldn’t help the laugh that erupted as soon as he said it, his hand coming up to grab Stevie’s shoulder for support. Once he caught his breath, Brady waved said hand in the air and placed the empty can down on the table. “Okay, okay. I think it’s time we wrap this up.”

Max wasn’t expecting it to go that fast, but maybe he should have stopped to think about it. Or come up with different rules. But it was too late… and he was definitely more tipsy than he’d intended to be. He just wanted to be a little gone, not like… this much. “Uhh it tastes like an alcoholic energy drink. Or somethin’. Like freakin’… party Monster.” He snorted at his own joke, setting his empty can on the table in front of them and slinking back into the couch just as Brady spoke. He and broke out into a laugh so big he could feel it vibrate through his chest. “Shut up, you’re dumb.” Yet he grinned at him and began to sit up, his hand dropping down to Brady’s leg to use the leverage to straighten himself. And even his almost-drunk mind was well aware of their proximity, and he wasn’t really sure if it was the alcohol or a laughing Brady that wasn’t making him think clearly. “Okay…okay. Yeah.” He gave a short laugh and lifted his hand from Brady’s leg, running it over his face as he shook his head. His heart leapt in his chest, because he knew why he was even here to begin with. But they’d been having fun. And now they were drunk and he didn’t know what to do. “Okay guys I think it’s safe to say we’re both losers here. That’s all the sign-off you get. I’m…kinda drunk. A little.” He looked to Brady. “But uh. Not that drunk.” He swallowed, not nearly as humorous as before, but not trying to alarm him by a sudden change in tone. “Hey dude? Can I be honest with you for a second?”

Max was a mess. That was all Brady could think as he watched him give a half-assed outro, just slightly slower than usual. But Brady himself was just as bad, ducking his head and damn near giggling through it. He did manage to look back up at the camera when Max said he was drunk to add, “Same.” And then Max looked at him and of course Brady’s focus shifted. It was a little weird, the sudden (but subtle) shift in the mood of the conversation, but not the kind of weird that made Brady want to run away before things got too serious. Although… maybe that had something to do with the crazy amount of alcoholic energy drink in his system, because he almost knew where this was going before it got there. And that was dumb, since he’d spent all this time pretending not to notice the way Max looked at him sometimes and also acting like it didn’t make a difference to him. He didn’t know when he realized he was attracted to him, but it was long enough ago that Brady had gotten really, really good at pretending. Max was too close to him, one of the most secure constants in his life, and Brady wasn’t gonna let his dumbass fuck that up. But Max was crossing the line so Brady didn’t have to. “Yeah,” was all Brady managed to say through the fog clouding his brain. He wanted to say as long as it’s not stupid, a last-ditch effort to run away from the inevitable. Instead, he swayed a bit in his seat and said, “Anything.”

Max wasn’t sure how Brady would respond to the change in subject, but when he didn’t seem phased, part of him was almost surprised. He didn’t think he’d want to listen right now. But then he agreed and gave him that look again; the one that made him feel like he wasn’t crazy after all. He didn’t always get it from him, but when he did, Stevie couldn’t help how it made him feel. Fucking Brady messing with his head like this when he was already mush-brained. The all-too familiar sensation of longing settled into his gut, and it was then that he gained his resolve. Now or never. He seemed so much closer now, and he had to fight to not lean over to him and go too far. “I didn’t — do this for the freaking video, Brady.” He struggled to make sense, and he ended up leaning in some regardless, tone lowering as though he were telling a secret. Because that’s what this felt like. Max’s shoulders slouched a little from the alcohol, and he shook his head so he could try to think clearly. “I wanna know. I want to know.” His words were spoken slowly as he corrected himself. He wanted to reach out and touch him, and he lifted his hand to do so, before choosing to settle it between them. Even in his state of mind right now he knew this was one hell of a delicate situation. “If I kissed you…” The words were so foreign to say around him, even if he’d thought about it before. But now he couldn’t take them back. His head swam with anxiousness, but he also felt a sense of pride at having done it. So he repeated it, making sure Brady heard him. “If I actually… really kissed you. Would you never talk to me again?”

Brady swallowed, noticing how unbelievably dry his throat was. “I don’t…” He didn’t what? Didn’t want to ruin their friendship by admitting he wanted to sleep with him? Didn’t want to fuck up something to good in his life? Didn’t want to make things awkward between them forever? He recognized that saying any of that was the surest and quickest way to make it happen, because the damage had been done. Max had said his part, had put himself out there and opened up the flood gates and now it was Brady’s turn to decide what to do with it. He was dizzy, mostly because he was drunk but also partly because he was moving, leaning forward with an arm over the back of the couch to steady himself so he could kiss him. He was all too aware of how drunk they both were, especially considering how clumsily his hands found Max’s face, and just… what the fuck. Brady didn’t know what to think, except that he technically hadn’t answered Max’s question. But he was hoping he got the picture.

Max hadn’t exactly expected the night to go like this. He expected Brady to pull away from him; to make up any and every excuse to not be around him. But he wasn’t doing any of that, and suddenly he was hyper-aware of everything. Feeling Brady’s arm slide around the back of the couch urged Max to lean in to close what distance was left between them. The moment his friend finally kissed him was surreal, and he couldn’t really think of much of anything other than how freaking soft his lips were and how nice his hands felt on his face even if they kind of bumped against him. Max’s hands didn’t feel so steady themselves, but he still used one to grab the fabric of that ridiculous Henley of his and tug him in closer. The other raised to cup Brady’s own jaw as he reciprocated the kiss; all caution gone now. He broke apart briefly, eyes shut, and he laughed quietly as he licked his bottom lip. His eyes opened only for his gaze to drop down to Brady’s mouth. “Really like that answer.” He said quietly, but sure as hell wasn’t going to say any more and ruin this. He brought himself closer, knee bumping against Brady’s as he pressed another kiss to his lips, hand cupping his jaw now sliding to the back of his neck to steady him.

Max closed the already very little distance between them even further and Brady suddenly felt a sense of urgency. Like he was reminded that this really was an okay thing to be doing, and fuck if he didn’t really, really want it. He pulled away and dragged his hands down to Max’s shoulders to urge him backwards, simultaneously trying to move on top of him, but he very quickly lost his balance and tumbled right into Max, pushing him much harder than intended onto his back on the couch. “Oops.” Brady couldn’t help but laugh just before pressing another kiss to his lips. Then he planted his hands to push himself back up slightly. He hesitated for a moment, feeling all sorts of dizzy as he looked down at Max, but he bit his lip and touched Max’s shirt, pulling the fabric just a little. “You…” He swallowed. “Tell me to stop if it’s—if you don’t want me to,” he said slowly, the slur in his words surprising even himself for a moment. Even when he could barely see straight, he knew better than to just assume where this was going simply because it was what he wanted. Brady bunched up the fabric in his hands to start to pull it off, knowing Max had an out if he wanted it, no questions asked.

Max was fully ready to lose all control and climb on top of Brady when his shoulders were being pushed backwards. Caught off guard, he hit the couch harder than perhaps he needed to. His head slamming on the cushion and back bouncing from the impact. Unable to help it, Max let out a large laugh, something that was quickly silenced by Brady’s lips on his. He smiled into the kiss, and almost deepened it when his friend broke apart. And the words honest to God made him pause for a second. If he wanted…him to stop. Wow. Really. “You’re. So.” Unbelievable. He let out a laugh of disbelief, although the comment was sweet. Max had wanted this for way too long. “More like if you wanna stop we can.” He murmured, and took a second to slide his hand up Brady’s back. He wasn’t sure what was going on. Max never thought that they’d actually get drunk, or do anything like this. He just wanted to tell him so Brady could once and for all reject him. But now that he wasn’t — he was going to fully embrace that and not question things for once. But if Brady wanted to stop, he’d stop.

Now though? Max was eagerly lifting himself up so they could both pull his shirt over his head. “Don’t wanna stop.” He reached out grab Brady’s shirt and bunched the bottom of the material in his hands, palms sliding up the skin of his torso as he tried to remove the material completely. And then Max was sitting up, despite kind of loving Brady being right on top of him. But he had more pressing business. Maybe a little sloppily, he met Brady’s lips once more and wrapped his arms around his waist, before slowly flipping their positions. Not thinking clearly, he barely processed the fact that they were both sliding off the couch and to the ground, the Four Loko cans scattered around them. But Max barely even paid attention. Now on top of Brady, he lifted himself up with his hands so he could look down at him. Holy crap Brady was really here doing this with him. Something at that moment clicked in him, and he grinned slowly. “Fuck you Brady. I hate your stupid clothes.” Max dipped his head for another slow kiss before dropping his head lower, finally allowing himself to trail kisses from his jawline to his neck as his hands trailed down to his waistline, thumbs stroking against his skin as he took his time. This was really happening.

Brady wanted to make some sort of comment, but not only could his brain not currently form one, he was a little preoccupied at the same time. He tossed Max’s shirt…fuckin’ somewhere, it didn’t matter, and only had a second to take it in before reacting to Max’s hand sliding up under his own. Brady yanked it over his head and it joined Max’s somewhere on the floor. Then Max quite literally dragged him onto the floor and Brady couldn’t even think to remind Max that he was, in fact, dumb. He did manage to roll his eyes, though, but grinned in spite of it and mumbled, “Then get rid of ‘em.” He shivered when Max’s hands paused right above the waistband of his sweats, his lips on his neck and sending Brady’s drunk ass into sensory overload. He groaned before his brain caught up to allow him to swallow the sound, but then… he didn’t give a fuck.

Brady’s hands came down to join Max’s, only to push them out of his way so he could hold onto Max’s hips instead. He gave him a generous tug to pull Max flush against him, pressing his fingers into his skin. If he was gonna be a smartass about not wanting to stop, then Brady wasn’t gonna let him be a tease. Only he wasn’t crazy about lying here on the floor, wedged between the couch and the table. He let out a shaky breath before managing to speak. “C’mon.” He started wiggling out from under Max, pushing him off so he could sit up. “Not on the floor.” He held onto the couch for leverage as he pulled himself to stand, laughing as he struggled to get his balance. God, they really were both a goddamn mess. As if Brady cared. He knew what he was doing. Max’s room was closest, so obviously it was where Brady went. He shut the door behind them even though literally no one was gonna be coming in, then turned and pulled Max by the hand until he could feel his bare skin against his own, bringing their lips together as he led them in the general direction of Max’s bed.

When Brady groaned, practically right in his ear, that did him in. “Want me to?” He drawled out in response and grinned against Brady’s neck, giving a playful nip to the skin before soothing it with his tongue. Max’s fingers dipped under the waistband of Brady’s sweats just slightly, only teasing, when Brady pushed his arms out of the way and pulled his hips forward. A groan broke from the back of Max’s own throat as they were pressed together. He was already half-hard from that stint on the couch, but now there was no hiding it. At that moment, his eyes met Brady’s, and he rolled his hips forward against his without skipping a beat. He wasn’t going to be shy; not when Brady finally wanted this too. Before he had time to do it again, Brady was urging him to stand up. And they both may have stumbled, but Max honestly had a one track mind right now. They made their way to his room, and out of instinct Max pulled the cover loosely over Ratthew’s cage as they walked by. Pretty quickly, Brady had the door shut behind them and was pulling him in by his hand. And then they were pressed together - finally. Max’s hands found either side of Brady’s face, lips urgently moving against his as they made their way over to his bed. He broke apart only to grin at him, sliding his hands down to his chest only to gently push him backwards. This time he didn’t waste any time before he was climbing up on his bed and straddling him, hips pressing down on his as he leaned in for another kiss, letting it linger before trailing open-mouthed kisses down his chest and to his stomach. Max stopped there, letting his nose graze against the spot his lips just brushed over, and glanced up again. “Bein’ in my room isn’t so bad, is it?” He teased, tone rough and still slightly slurred. Still, being careful to watch his reactions, he slid a hand down Brady’s hip and over the front of his sweats, just brushing over him to test the waters. And damn if he didn’t hear his own heart thundering in his ears as he did so.

-------Brady had no idea what time it was when he first woke up the following morning. It was bright as fuck, that was for sure, and he very quickly realized it was because the curtain was wide open. Why hadn’t he closed it like always? He rubbed his eyes as reality slowly started to come back to him. He hadn’t closed it because he had been drunk off his ass, and also because it wasn’t exactly ‘like always’ since this was Max’s room, and he was waking up in Max’s bed next to Max because they’d slept together last night. So, right. There was that. Brady blinked as he stared down at his friend, still fast asleep, lying on his stomach and hugging the pillow under his head. Even through Brady’s hazy memory and one hell of a headache, of course it all came flooding back to him. The way it felt when Max touched him, the feeling of his mouth on him, the hottest fucking look on Max’s face when Brady returned the favor. God. All of it. It was fucking good. He also vaguely remembered a snide remark about the whole ordeal having taken them long enough just before he passed out. But whatever.

He couldn’t wipe the smug smirk off his face as he forced himself to finally look away from Max and drag himself out of the bed, careful not to wake him. He found his pants on the floor and tugged them on before heading out to the living room. He shook his head at the discarded cans (which he’d worry about later, ‘cause whatever, not like anybody was coming over) and then caught sight of his camera. Right, he’d forgotten about the freaking video for Max’s channel. The battery was just about dead since Brady had been a dumbass and left it on all night. He sighed and picked it up to make sure the video was at least still there, and he was met with one over an hour long. Which was definitely unusual for them — they didn’t typically talk for that long. Brady furrowed his brow as he quickly skimmed through the video, and his heart dropped as he discovered that…everything had been recorded. Well, everything right up until going to Max’s room, after which it must have automatically stopped after surpassing the video time limit. “Jesus Christ,” he muttered as onscreen-Brady pushed Max down onto the couch. He weirdly felt like kind of a perv just standing there watching their accidental kind of sex tape, so he turned off the camera and took out the battery to start charging it before heading to the kitchen. He didn’t have the slightest clue how today would pan out, but he did know he just wanted some Lucky Charms at the moment.

Max was hardly coherent when he finally began to stir. It took a moment upon first waking up to truly get his bearings. And as the light harassed his vision, his memories began to come back to him. And his eyes opened, followed by his arm reaching back to the spot beside him. Empty. Oh no. With some difficulty, he sat up and looked at the now empty spot next to him, and dread immediately gathered in the pit of his stomach as he called the previous nights events. Brady kissing him… Him kissing Brady. Then them doing a lot more than that to each other. And he knew Brady wasn’t the type to wanna spoon him or hold his hand or whatever but his mind immediately went to the worst. Groaning as fully sat up and the sunlight hit his eyes, Max stood up and stretched his arms over his head, trying to soothe his stiff muscles before grabbing himself some sweatpants to tug on.

Walking over to the door, he uncovered Ratthew’s cage, smiling softly to himself as he looked up at him and squinted due to the sudden light entering his cage. “Moment of truth, buddy.” Max tapped his fingers to the side of the cage, then ran his other hand through his hair and walked out. He wasn’t sure if he was expecting to see Brady packing his stuff, or what. But he didn’t expect him to be…. eating cereal. And it was the same thing he saw every morning, but the sight still kind of made him smile anyway. “Uh. Morning.” He said cautiously as he walked in and approached the table as casually as he could. Nothing weird so far. It wasn’t until he got there that he noticed the box in front of Brady, and he squinted, fear forgotten momentarily as he reached out to lift up the plastic bag. Just as he expected. Empty. “Are you really eating the last of my Lucky Charms right now, dude?”

Brady looked up when Max entered the kitchen. He thought that when they saw each other, he might feel weird, or awkward, or a multitude of other emotions that would fuck things up between them, but instead Brady just felt… normal. It was the same sight he was used to seeing every day. Same roommate. Same general morning routine. The only thing different was that nothing was hidden anymore, and he’d probably argue that was going to make things easier. “Sup,” he said through a mouthful of cereal. He watched Max as he walked, and it occurred to Brady that literally all he was thinking of now was whatever was going through Max’s head. They’d probably have to really sit down and talk about this sometime soon. Right now was just not that time, especially not when Max wanted to pick a fight about the Lucky Charms. “Dude, they’re not your Lucky Charms,” he shot back. “What did you want me to do, make a new box magically appear? I’ll go get some more today.” If anything could be considered totally normal between them, it was this, without a doubt. Brady finished off the last of the cereal in his bowl and hesitated for a moment, wondering what he should say or if he should say anything at all, and here was that awkwardness he’d been expecting. Or maybe it wasn’t awkward so much as it was…tense. “So. Realized this morning I left my camera on all night.” The worst thing he could say? Perhaps. But he was feeling confident that this could maybe cut some of that tension. Maybe. He didn’t fucking know. “It recorded…for a while.” He leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest, peering at Max curiously to see if he’d figure it out on his own.

Maybe he was deflecting, just a little, by pointing out the empty cereal box. But at the same time, he couldn’t resist messing with Brady a little. It was instinct by now to tease him until he rolled his eyes at him, even if he told himself to stop doing that before he got punched one of these days. He still did it anyway though. “Fine. Our lucky charms.” Max shrugged, Brady’s tone not phasing him ‘cause he was honestly used to it. If this were a normal day, he’d grab the spoon when Brady wasn’t looking to take a bite for himself. But it felt kind of out of place after last nights events. Oddly enough, considering he’d just had way more important things of Brady’s in his mouth. He sighed. “It’d be nice if you could. Got any magic powers I should know about?” He couldn’t help his normal grin from taking place at that moment, until Brady went and mentioned the camera. The camera. Of freaking course….God, Max was an idiot. Max took a long, silent moment, as the words really and fully sunk in. And the first question that popped in his head was did Brady watch it? The second coherent thought was the fact that Brady was actually referencing what happened without any trace of panic. And at that realization, Max relaxed. Good sign. He wracked his brain trying to come up with a normal response. But his stupidity bravery was at an all time high. “Hot. You wanna save it just for us or post it up on PornHub?” Max leaned his hands on the counter, honestly bracing himself and shaking his head. “Sorry, sorry. I’m… wow.” He couldn’t help but start laughing a bit. “I never thought you’d want to make a sex tape with me.” He let it hang in the air, and he met Brady’s gaze, not really sure how to respond. He was torn between humor and regret. Maybe he was still drunk from all the Four Loko. “How do you… feel about that?” It was a loaded question, one that wasn’t necessarily about the camera or video.

Brady waited while the gears turned in Max’s head. He could practically see him putting the pieces together about what Brady had just said. And Max had been surprising him quite a bit within the past 24 hours, but his response? Not surprising. It was Max, after all. But Brady still rolled his eyes, because he was Brady. “You’re such an idiot.” Then he shrugged. “It wouldn’t even do well, for the record. S’not all that exciting.” From what he had seen before feeling creepy and also managed to remember. But it was fun to mess with Max. Brady went to the sink to clean up after himself when Max asked him how he felt, and he knew he wasn’t talking about a fucking sex tape or whatever. Except Brady didn’t really know what to say in response. He thought he made it pretty clear how he felt about what was going on last night. He also knew Max, though, and knew that he had a big heart and genuinely wanted to know, and deserved real answers. And while Brady might not have been able to tell him exactly what he wanted to hear (mostly because he still wasn’t entirely sure what that was), he could suck it up and be as honest as possible — and give him a little bit of shit in the process. “I feel like I wanna know why you were holdin’ out on me,” he finally settled on, because again, both honest and amusing. Brady turned and brushed his hands on his pants. “Gonna go get dressed and go to Starbucks. Text me what you want.” He started to head out of the kitchen toward his bedroom, but paused to turn and look at Max again. “Oh — and the battery’s gotta charge a little, but…camera’s on the coffee table, in case you wanna make sure your vid turned out okay.” And then he finally did go. They could truly deal with this later. Right now, they both needed coffee.

Max was honest to God, for the first time in a long time, speechless. Did that asshole just flirt back? He was about to say something when Brady added the bit about the camera. Max honestly wasn’t even thinking about the video right now. His hands laid flat on the counter as he leaned forward further, eyes flickering towards the living-room and the table where the camera sat. Damn. He was really going to have to go through it now and get rid of the embarrassing bits. Max wasn’t sure if Brady was just trying to mess with him or genuinely didn’t want to edit it out himself. “Hey, wait a minu—” But it was fallen on deaf ears as the door was slammed behind him. It took him a second after Brady leaving for a surprised smile filtered over his face. Well. Okay, then. Not exactly all the answers to the universe, but at least Brady was talking to him, and that was enough for him for now. He sighed and looked back in the direction of where they’d filmed last night. He’d mess with the whole camera thing later. But he really was gonna need that coffee Brady was talking about. And maybe a shower and a life. Max ran a hand through his hair and made his way back to his room to grab his phone. Pulling up Brady’s name, he shook his head to himself before sending his text.

“Surprise me, Bradley.”

#CANON #the four loko incident #current verse #002

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